PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eden Crawford (ranked 4027 p4p, 3967 weight class) and Jim Johnathan (ranked 371 p4p, 504 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Crawford
vs
Johnathan

170 cm
25
148
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
195
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Eden Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jim Johnathan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crawford bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnathan misses with a body shot.
Johnathan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crawford manages to avoid it.
Johnathan throws a jab but it's blocked by Crawford.
Johnathan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Crawford stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Crawford bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crawford changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnathan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crawford steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnathan.
Crawford changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Crawford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnathan.

Crawford shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnathan's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnathan can't keep his opponent in guard - Crawford advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnathan wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.
Crawford wants to pass to mount but Johnathan is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnathan tries to get to full guard but Crawford has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnathan trying to hold on to Crawford's head to control him but Crawford postures up.

Crawford is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnathan is just riding it out for now. Crawford eventually gives up the hold.
Johnathan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Crawford engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Crawford looking to pass the guard.
Crawford looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnathan wants to stand but Crawford is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Crawford trying to control but Johnathan is working from the bottom.
Johnathan being controlled here, momentarily.
Crawford stopping the sweep attempt from Johnathan.
Crawford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnathan wants to stand but Crawford is controlling the position.
Johnathan wants to sweep here but Crawford controlling him for the moment.
Crawford showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Crawford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Crawford won't allow Johnathan to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnathan looks to throw the jab but Crawford is out of range.
Crawford changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A jab from Johnathan misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Johnathan.
Crawford slips a straight right by Johnathan.
Crawford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnathan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crawford moves away.
Crawford drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnathan sprawls and moves away.
Johnathan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Crawford drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johnathan looks to throw the jab but Crawford is out of range.
Crawford slips a jab from Johnathan.
Crawford slips a jab from Johnathan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnathan clobbers Crawford with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnathan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Johnathan throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnathan lands an overhand right.
A big left from Johnathan misses.
Crawford keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnathan.
Crawford attempts a counter takedown but Johnathan avoids it well and moves away.
Crawford takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnathan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnathan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnathan is pulling down on Crawford's head. It's preventing any offense from Crawford, at least for the moment.
Crawford is stalling in the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Johnathan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Johnathan finds it's way through Crawford's defenses.
Crawford takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Johnathan scores with a hook.
Johnathan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Crawford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnathan cracks Crawford with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnathan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Johnathan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Crawford appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnathan with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnathan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnathan cracks Crawford with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Crawford moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Johnathan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crawford defending well as Johnathan loads up on a big left hand.
Crawford takes a jab right on the kisser.
Crawford moves out of range as Johnathan strikes.
Crawford attempts a counter takedown but Johnathan avoids it well and moves away.
Johnathan takes a swing at Crawford's ribcage but misses.
Johnathan swings widly with a right hand

so Crawford counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnathan trying to control the position.
Johnathan looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnathan, not yet.
Crawford is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnathan can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnathan keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Johnathan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnathan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnathan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Crawford trying to control but Johnathan is working from the bottom.
Eden Crawford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnathan trying to control the position.
Crawford preventing the sweep.
Johnathan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnathan can't keep his opponent in guard - Crawford advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Crawford is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnathan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Crawford.
Crawford is looking to advance position but Johnathan won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford is looking for a kimura but Johnathan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Crawford to get the leverage.

Crawford is trying to work for a kimura but Johnathan is defending well.
Johnathan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crawford.
Johnathan won't allow Crawford to pass to mount.
Johnathan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Crawford drops back looking for a leg! Johnathan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnathan manages to kick Crawford off! Crawford jumps back into Johnathan's guard.
Johnathan keeping full guard, as Crawford tries to pass.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnathan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Crawford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnathan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnathan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnathan keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Johnathan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnathan missing with a left hand there. Crawford was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Crawford shoots in and drives through. Johnathan sprawls well.
Crawford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnathan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnathan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Johnathan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnathan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Johnathan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Crawford has time to react.
Good shot there by Johnathan.
Johnathan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jim Johnathan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnathan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A punch lands to the side of Crawford 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Crawford staying out of range there.
Crawford feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnathan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnathan wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eden Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnathan sprawls well. Johnathan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet.
Crawford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jim Johnathan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Crawford manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnathan on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnathan's guard now, I'm sure.
Crawford won't allow Johnathan to sweep him here.
Johnathan keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Crawford stopping the sweep attempt from Johnathan.
Crawford looking to pass the guard.
Crawford trying to control but Johnathan is working from the bottom.
Johnathan wants to sweep but no luck.
Eden Crawford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim Johnathan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnathan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnathan controls Crawford momentarily but Crawford frees himself.
Crawford throwing strikes but missing.
Crawford stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnathan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crawford is working hard here to advance position.
Johnathan keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johnathan is looking to stand up but Crawford isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crawford on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnathan scores with a nice right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnathan as he connects with a hook.

Crawford gets a takedown into half guard.

Crawford seems to be working for a kimura but Johnathan defends the submission attempt.

Crawford seems to be working for a kimura but Johnathan defends the submission attempt.
Johnathan is doing well to control the position and prevent Crawford from advancing to side control.

Crawford is working for a submission of some sort.
Crawford throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnathan wants to get back to his feet.
Johnathan tries to get to full guard but Crawford has control of the leg.
Johnathan is trying to control but can't.

Crawford is trying to work for a kimura but Johnathan is defending well.
Johnathan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Johnathan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnathan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Jim Johnathan!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Jim Johnathan!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Jim Johnathan!

Jim Johnathan wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Jim Johnathan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.