PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Santana Blaze (ranked 1144 p4p, 65 weight class) and Henry The Crab (ranked 1896 p4p, 100 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blaze
vs
The Crab

177 cm
39
129 lbs
23 - 15 - 2

170 cm
27
140 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Santana Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry The Crab!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Crab throws a sloppy head kick and Blaze moves out of range easily.
The Crab scores with a jab. Blaze acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The Crab throws an off balance right hand
and Blaze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blaze looks to land a combination. The Crab sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Blaze tries to bum rush The Crab with a series of wild strikes but The Crab uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Blaze.
Blaze scoring well with a low kick there.
Blaze feints and then cracks The Crab's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow The Crab down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blaze.
The Crab tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blaze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Crab throws an off balance right hand
and Blaze counters with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The Crab clinches up with Blaze and pushes him back against the cage.
The Crab scores with a shoulder strike.
The Crab misses with a hook from the clinch.
The Crab has Blaze pressed against the cage, preventing Blaze from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The Crab throws a head punch that misses.
Our sources have told us that Blaze has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Blaze - that landed with a thud.
The Crab is working for takedown but Blaze is calmly controlling the position for now.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Blaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The Crab lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Blaze manages to break the clinch.
Blaze scores with a leg kick.
Blaze connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The Crab lands an overhand right.
The Crab tries to clinch
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
The Crab throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Blaze is looking for a counter combo.
The Crab takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Blaze lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The Crab takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The Crab misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blaze throws a series of punches but The Crab avoids them all with ease.
Blaze moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Blaze cracks the inside of The Crab's front leg.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that The Crab has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
The Crab misses with a takedown
and Blaze counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Crab cracks a nice hook into Blaze's ribs.
The Crab looks for the body kick but Blaze saw that one coming.
It looked like Blaze was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from The Crab.
The Crab doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Blaze connects with a jab.
Blaze tests The Crab's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The Crab throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Horrible takedown attempt by The Crab or perhaps it was just good defense by Blaze, which made it look bad.
Santana Blaze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry The Crab.
The Crab tries for a takedown but Blaze circles away easily
and The Crab takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The Crab throws out a loose jab but Blaze uses good head movement to avoid it.
The Crab throws a right hand that Blaze ducks under and follows up with a left that Blaze also avoids with ease.
The Crab throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Blaze scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The Crab throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blaze.
Blaze is looking to counter punch.
The Crab misses with a body punch
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Blaze!
The Crab throws a big shot that misses.
The Crab cracks a nice hook into Blaze's ribs.
Santana Blaze is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blaze lands with a nice body punch.
The Crab throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The Crab misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blaze.
The Crab takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The Crab thows a leg kick but Blaze checks it
and Blaze counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The Crab misses with a takedown attempt
and Blaze counters with a right hand to the body.
Blaze thumps The Crab with a low kick.
Henry The Crab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blaze throws a series of strikes that have The Crab backpedaling.
Blaze keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blaze stalks The Crab and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into The Crab's face. The Crab staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Crab shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blaze counters with a right hand to the body.
Blaze bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The Crab shoots for a takedown but Blaze saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Blaze.
The Crab waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Blaze.
Blaze moves out of range as The Crab strikes.
Blaze throws a big counter combination but The Crab scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The Crab takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Blaze is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The Crab misses with a right hand
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
Blaze defending well as The Crab loads up on a big left hand.
Blaze misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blaze lands with a shot to the body.
Blaze takes a swing at The Crab's ribcage but misses.
The Crab looks for a takedown but Blaze sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The Crab lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blaze circles away quickly and effectively.
The Crab throws a hook but Blaze avoids it easily.
Blaze shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. The Crab eats them both and turns towards Blaze to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Blaze stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blaze wants it to stay on the feet.
Blaze throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The Crab lands a body shot.
Blaze takes a swing at The Crab's ribcage but misses.
The Crab is looking to clinch but Blaze is avoiding it.
The Crab misses with a double jab
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blaze misses with a few strikes there.
The Crab's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The Crab throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Blaze to counter with a crisp jab.
The Crab has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The Crab pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A quick step to the side and Blaze tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blaze is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that The Crab can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Crab digs a good body shot into Blaze's ribs.
The Crab misses with a straight right.
Blaze appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
The Crab tries to close the distance and clinch but Blaze swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Blaze does no damage.
The Crab pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaze misses with a double jab.
The Crab tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blaze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blaze uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Crab.
Blaze bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps The Crab's head backwards.
The Crab jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Blaze throws a big counter combination but The Crab scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The Crab shoots in for a takedown but Blaze shows good takedown defense.
The Crab tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
The Crab is looking to clinch but Blaze is avoiding it.
The Crab avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters circling - The Crab throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blaze throws a body punch but The Crab moves out of range.
The Crab misses with an uppercut. Blaze saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze thuds a left hand into The Crab's body.
Santana Blaze is winning the standup battle so far.
The Crab misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Blaze. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The Crab tries to clinch there but Blaze circles away.
Blaze is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The Crab doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaze circles away.
The Crab throws a nice looking combination but Blaze bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blaze lands a jab-cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Blaze darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Blaze with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The Crab is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The Crab tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blaze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blaze tried to counter with a leg kick but The Crab avoided it.
The Crab throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaze is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Blaze misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santana Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blaze thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on The Crab if he has to take too many more of those.
The Crab is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Crab throws an off balance right hand
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blaze connects with an inside leg kick.
The Crab throws a jab when Blaze was well out of range.
The Crab wants to clinch up but Blaze keeps it at a distance.
Blaze misses with a double jab.
Blaze lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Blaze throws a series of strikes that have The Crab backpedaling.
The Crab takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The Crab looks to land a right hand but Blaze moved out of range.
Blaze circles away from the clinch attempt
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
The Crab throws a poor cross that misses
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blaze moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Crab tries to clinch up but Blaze circles away and keeps his distance.
Blaze swings away with a body shot that misses

and The Crab counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Blaze knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for The Crab on the ground.
Blaze is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaze is trying to stand up here but The Crab is controlling him well.
The Crab looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blaze with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The Crab seems to be looking for submissions.

The Crab is trying to work for a kimura but Blaze is defending well.
Blaze wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Crab tries to pass to full mount but Blaze defends it.
The Crab stops Blaze from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The Crab tries to clinch up
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
The Crab goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Blaze moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Blaze moves out of range as The Crab strikes.
The Crab tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

The Crab closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Blaze escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blaze keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from The Crab.
The Crab takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze thuds a left hand into The Crab's body.
Blaze scoring well with a low kick there.
The Crab walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Crab. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Blaze.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Crab goes for a double leg but Blaze avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blaze continues to drive forward.
The Crab fails with the takedown
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
The Crab takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A combination from Blaze does no damage.
Blaze connects with a nice looking jab.
Blaze on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The Crab doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaze circles away.
Blaze appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A combination from The Crab does no damage.
The Crab pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaze jabs at The Crab's body.
The Crab fails to land with a series of punches.
A good leg kick by Blaze.
Blaze lands a jab.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Blaze here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
The Crab just misses with a punch to the body.
Henry The Crab has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Crab dodges the punch combination from Blaze.
The Crab feints the counter takedown.
The Crab looks to land a right hand but Blaze moved out of range.
The Crab misses with a few strikes there.
Blaze throws a right and a left that The Crab avoids nicely.
The Crab tries to clinch but Blaze is having none of it.
The Crab on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The Crab swings widly with a right hand
and The Crab takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blaze uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Crab.
A quick step to the side and Blaze tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blaze scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from The Crab misses the target.
Blaze lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Blaze.
The Crab throws a poor cross that misses
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
The Crab fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
The Crab misses with the combination.
Blaze fires out a quick counter leg kick but The Crab just manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Crab pushes Blaze up against the cage in a clinch.
The Crab keeps control of Blaze as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Blaze breaks the clinch.
The Crab drops his hands momentarily and Blaze takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Blaze throws a nice looking combination but The Crab bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The Crab misses with a body shot.
Blaze with a jab.
Blaze walks into a jab.
Blaze works The Crab's body with a nice hook.
Blaze takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The Crab tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Blaze connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Crab misses with a hook.
It looked like Blaze wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Crab. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Crab tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blaze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blaze lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Blaze moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blaze scores with a jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Blaze scores with a four punch combination!
The Crab will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for The Crab, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blaze misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santana Blaze is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blaze slips under a jab from The Crab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santana Blaze showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blaze, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santana Blaze!
In his post fight interview, Santana Blaze gave a big smile as he said 'Thank you all, this is my last fight'.
In defeat, Henry The Crab stepped up to the mic, saying 'Respect man, respect!'.