PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Lee (ranked 4726 p4p, 381 weight class) and Zachary Crawford (ranked 7341 p4p, 460 weight class). Zachary Crawford is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Lee
vs
Crawford

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kevin Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zachary Crawford!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crawford stuffs the takedown.

Crawford shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Lee is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Crawford is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford trying to control the action but Lee is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lee defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lee defending well though.
Crawford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lee is looking for a sweep. Crawford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lee is working hard here to advance position.
Lee has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crawford is working away from the top position though.
Lee tries to roll over but Crawford keeps him under control.
Lee wants to control the action here but instead Crawford manages to pass to full mount!
Lee is trying to reverse the position but instead Crawford has taken his back - oops!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to escape but Crawford has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Crawford trying to control momentarily.
Lee is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Crawford's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Lee just trying to survive but Crawford is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee prevents Crawford from getting a body triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Crawford thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Lee tries to escape but Crawford has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Crawford thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Lee tries to escape the position.
Crawford trying to control.
Crawford misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to break free.
Lee trying to control the position but Crawford manages to sink in the hooks.
Lee knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Crawford on the ground.
Crawford tries to get the hooks in deep but Lee pushed the leg off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee just trying to survive but Crawford is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Crawford dominated that round.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crawford scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Crawford is looking to take a break and control but Lee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Crawford fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Crawford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Crawford is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lee has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lee tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Lee is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee keeps Crawford under control for a moment.
Zachary Crawford has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lee is trying to work for a sweep but Crawford has mounted him!
Crawford looking to ground and pound but Lee is blocking nicely.
Crawford throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Lee because Crawford loaded up on that one.
Lee wants to control but Crawford is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee is squirming around, avoiding Crawford's attempts to control the action.

Crawford is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lee has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lee wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Lee wants to escape the position.

Crawford is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lee defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lee looking very determined here, making life difficult for Crawford.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to break free.

Crawford tightening his grip on Lee, looking for the choke.
Crawford controlling well, preventing Lee from escaping the position.
Lee is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lee tries to break free.
Lee looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Crawford tightening his grip on Lee, looking for the choke.
Lee rolls, trying to escape but Crawford keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crawford trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Crawford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Lee shoots in.

Crawford looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Lee manages to escape and get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lee enables Crawford to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lee manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lee bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Crawford's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crawford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lee throws a strike but Crawford rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Crawford trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee wants to stand and escape but Crawford is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lee wants to improve his position but instead Crawford has moved into half guard.
Crawford prevents Lee from improving his position.
Crawford wants to control but Lee is keeping him busy.
Lee is trying to get back to full guard.

Lee manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee fails to land the takedown.

Crawford dives in and scores a takedown into Lee's guard.
Lee wants to get back to his feet but Crawford passes into half guard.

Lee is trying to control but can't.
Lee wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.

Lee looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Lee trying to hold on to Crawford's head to control him but Crawford postures up.
Zachary Crawford is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lee is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Crawford is trying to control the action in half guard but Lee is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crawford works his way into full mount!
Lee can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crawford can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lee is looking to escape.
Kevin Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lee can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zachary Crawford.
Well Crawford has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachary Crawford!
A determined Zachary Crawford didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!