PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Ventura (ranked 2787 p4p, 286 weight class) and Ichabod Crane (ranked 2082 p4p, 216 weight class). Crane has chosen Love Inc!-Broken Bones! as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ventura
vs
Crane

204 cm
40
265 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

200 cm
37
241 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Ventura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ichabod Crane!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ventura misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Crane with the counter takedown but Ventura avoids it easily.
Ventura throws a lazy uppercut

and Crane counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ventura has one foot on Crane's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Crane uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ventura.
Ventura throws an off balance right hand
and Crane counters with a good, hard body kick but Ventura shrugs it off.
Ventura throws a right hand that misses
and Ventura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ventura looks to land a right hand but Crane moved out of range.
Ventura jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ventura throws a body shot but no joy.
Ventura swings widly with a right hand

and Crane counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Crane lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Crane wants to work for an arm triangle but Ventura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Crane trying to control the action but Ventura is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ventura blocking the ground and pound attempt from Crane.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ventura keeps working.
Crane tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ventura knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Crane looks to land a strike but Ventura avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Crane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Crane throwing strikes from guard but Ventura blocks nicely.
Crane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ventura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crane advances position into side control!
Crane in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane is looking to take a break and control but Ventura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Crane is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ventura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ventura keeps working.

Crane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ventura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Crane wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ventura, who protects the arm well.
Crane tries to advance position but instead Ventura slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crane is trying to work for a kimura but Ventura is defending well.
Crane passes the guard and advances to mount!

Crane goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ventura turns into him and now he's in Crane's guard.
Crane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Crane has Ventura pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ventura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ventura lands a couple of digs.
Ventura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crane wants to sweep here but Ventura controlling him for the moment.
Ventura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ventura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ventura stopping the sweep attempt from Crane.
Ventura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ventura throwing strikes but missing.
Ventura stopping the sweep attempt from Crane.
Ventura throws a big right hand that misses.
Crane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ventura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ventura postures up and lands a big shot to Crane's brow.
Crane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anthony Ventura will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ventura throws an off balance right hand

and Crane counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Crane.
Ventura keeping moving, preventing Crane from controlling successfully.
Crane passes Ventura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Crane wants to control but Ventura is keeping him busy.
Crane prevents Ventura from improving his position.

Crane seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Ventura has recovered full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane trying to control but Ventura is working from the bottom.
Crane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ventura is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ventura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Crane is pushing down on Ventura's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ventura is fighting to maintain full guard but Crane has managed to sneak the leg through.
My spies in The Takeover inform me that Crane has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Crane keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Crane wants to work for an arm triangle but Ventura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ventura is staying active underneath Crane, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Crane maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Ventura could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Crane has cracked it and Ventura is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Crane!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ichabod Crane!
Ichabod Crane gave a mention to Power Matrix Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).