PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Cranswick (ranked 5065 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Wakeling (ranked 4275 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cranswick
vs
Wakeling

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
158 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Liam Cranswick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Wakeling!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Chris Dean and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Cranswick.
Wakeling throws a sloppy head kick and Cranswick moves out of range easily.
Wakeling will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cranswick throws a series of punches but Wakeling avoids them all with ease.

Wakeling sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Cranswick to the ground! Wakeling dives into full mount looking to finish!

It looks like Liam Cranswick has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cranswick tries to lock up and control but Wakeling gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cranswick is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cranswick gets back to half guard.
Cranswick manages to get to full guard.

Cranswick looking for a guillotine here but Wakeling defends easily.

Cranswick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Wakeling got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cranswick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wakeling has managed to get both his arms back between Cranswick's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranswick controls Wakeling momentarily but Wakeling frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cranswick throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wakeling is looking to stand up but Cranswick won't let him.

Cranswick working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wakeling doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wakeling manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cranswick looking for a guillotine here but Wakeling defends easily.
Cranswick has a closed guard, preventing Wakeling from standing up.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cranswick is looking for a triangle but Wakeling pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cranswick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cranswick is breathing heavily.

Cranswick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wakeling defends well.
Wakeling really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cranswick. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wakeling has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cranswick is proving hard to escape from.
Wakeling postures up.
Cranswick controlling the position.

Cranswick is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wakeling would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Cranswick is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wakeling must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wakeling tries to stand but Cranswick is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick is trying to keep Wakeling in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cranswick working for a triangle but Wakeling defends it easily.

Cranswick escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wakeling gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wakeling tries to stand but Cranswick is controlling from the bottom.
Cranswick tries to strike from the bottom.
Cranswick has a closed guard, preventing Wakeling from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wakeling moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Wakeling drops Cranswick with a nice combination! Wakeling dives into Cranswick's guard, looking to finish!

Cranswick is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wakeling wants to get up but he can't break Cranswick's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Oh Cranswick is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wakeling is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Cranswick is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cranswick seems to have got his legs back now.
Wakeling would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Wakeling avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wakeling wants to stand but Cranswick is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cranswick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wakeling defends well.
Wakeling wanted to stand there but Cranswick had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Wakeling dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Liam Cranswick's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wakeling lands a high kick to the side of Cranswick's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Wakeling dives into guard, looking to finish.

Cranswick throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cranswick has a closed guard, preventing Wakeling from standing up.

Cranswick had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wakeling defends it easily.

Cranswick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wakeling can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cranswick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wakeling can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wakeling avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranswick is controlling Wakeling's posture.

Wakeling stands up and waves to Cranswick to follow him.

Wakeling lands a high kick to the side of Cranswick's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Wakeling dives into guard, looking to finish.
Wakeling is looking to stand up but Cranswick won't let him.

Cranswick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cranswick manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Wakeling breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cranswick takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wakeling looks for a left high kick but can't connect. Wakeling backs up to catch a breather... no he lunges forward with a huge flying knee that smacks Cranswick's temple! It sends Cranswick violently to the canvas! The crowd goes nuts as Wakeling celebrates and the doctors try to help Cranswick!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Flying Knee). Richard Wakeling!