PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cooper Kupp (ranked 4719 p4p, 25432 weight class) and Zachary Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kupp
vs
Crawford

150 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
135
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cooper Kupp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zachary Crawford!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kupp rushes Crawford and presses him up against the cage.

Crawford works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Crawford won't allow Kupp to sweep him here.
Kupp lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kupp tries to free his leg and advance position but Crawford is retaining full guard.
Crawford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kupp stands up and waves to Crawford to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kupp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Crawford backs away, Kupp returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kupp tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crawford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kupp somewhat.
Crawford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kupp tries to avoid it but Crawford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kupp to the ground. Kupp escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kupp is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crawford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kupp throws a combination. Crawford tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kupp is looking to score with low kicks.
Kupp scores with a hook to the body. Crawford takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kupp leaves Crawford with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kupp gets caught flat footed, as Crawford shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kupp is wriggling around but Crawford manages to pass to half guard.

Kupp wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.
Crawford tries to stand and escape but Kupp is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is thwarting Kupp's attempts to control the position.
Kupp is looking for a sweep. Crawford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kupp is trying to stand back up but Crawford is controlling him
Crawford trying to pass the guard but Kupp defending well.
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!
Kupp is trying to maintain the position but Crawford is very close to passing his half guard.

Crawford seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kupp is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Crawford tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kupp.
Kupp is trying to maintain the position but Crawford is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kupp keeping hold of Crawford's head, controlling as best he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kupp tries to clinch
and Crawford counters with a nice body shot.
Kupp stuffs the takedown.
Kupp throwing a counter right hand but Crawford manages to avoid it.
Cooper Kupp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Crawford.

That's four 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.
Kupp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A clash of legs there as Kupp blocks the low kick.
Kupp shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crawford defends it nicely.
Kupp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Kupp persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.
Crawford throws a sloppy head kick and Kupp moves out of range easily.
Kupp shoots in for a double leg but Crawford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Crawford tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kupp swivels and escapes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kupp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Crawford.
Crawford looks winded!

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

Kupp pushes Crawford off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cooper Kupp will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kupp forces Crawford back against the cage and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Kupp.
Kupp has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Crawford after a bit of a struggle.

Crawford successfully pulls guard.
Kupp showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Kupp thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kupp is pushing down on Crawford's leg trying to pass to half guard. Crawford is fighting to maintain full guard but Kupp has managed to sneak the leg through.
Crawford trying to control here.

Crawford looking for submissions off his back.
Crawford is looking to control Kupp's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crawford avoid being mounted?
Kupp is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Crawford throws a head kick but Kupp moves out of range.
As Crawford backs away, Kupp returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kupp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford tries for a takedown but Kupp circles away easily
and Kupp counters with a two punch combo.

Crawford is rocked!
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Kupp dives in for a single leg takedown but Crawford sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Crawford is still on wobbly legs! Can Kupp finish him?
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cooper Kupp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kupp wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kupp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Crawford backwards.

Kupp pulls Crawford into guard.

Crawford has gone for a leg lock! Kupp slips out almost immediately though and dives into Crawford's guard.

Kupp throws a big elbow that misses.
Kupp might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kupp not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford can't keep his opponent in guard - Kupp advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kupp working Crawford over with strikes.
Kupp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kupp controlling the pace.
Kupp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Crawford's head.
Kupp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kupp passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kupp controlling from the full mount.
Kupp throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kupp punching from mount but Crawford doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kupp sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kupp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Crawford can do to turn this around?
Kupp looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kupp looking to ground and pound but Crawford is blocking nicely.
Kupp lands a big shot there that rocks Crawford but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Crawford tries to improve his position but instead Kupp has taken his back!
Crawford looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Crawford is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kupp gets his way!

Crawford showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kupp has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Crawford's body.
Crawford is in bad spot here.
Kupp is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Kupp is looking for the choke from the back position but Crawford is controlling his hands well.
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!
Kupp somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Crawford seems to have recovered his senses.
Crawford is trying to get back to his feet but Kupp has full control of the position and if anything, Crawford has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Crawford trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Crawford preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kupp.
Kupp keeps control of the position as Crawford tries to break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cooper Kupp dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Crawford has his takedown stuffed

and Kupp moves into the clinch.
Crawford trying to stall but Kupp improves his position.
Kupp is trying to pull guard but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Crawford swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kupp pulls Crawford into guard.
Kupp trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Kupp uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kupp tries to clinch

and Crawford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Kupp pushes Crawford off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crawford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crawford looks to throw a body kick
and Kupp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kupp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crawford pinned against the cage. Crawford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kupp fails with the takedown

and Crawford counters with a single leg into guard. Kupp didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cooper Kupp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kupp is looking to stand up but Crawford isn't so interested in that idea.

Kupp throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Crawford escapes and throws Kupp's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Crawford looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kupp is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford working away.

Crawford working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kupp taking a bit of punishment here - Crawford scoring with strikes.

Crawford stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford fails with the takedown.
Kupp is looking for a counter combo.
Kupp tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crawford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kupp somewhat.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Kupp keeps it at a distance.
Kupp looks to throw a body kick

and Crawford counters with a takedown into side control.
Kupp manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kupp thows a huge punch but Crawford dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford tries to kick Kupp off but Kupp keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kupp tries to pass to full mount but Crawford defends it.
Kupp works his foot free and advances to mount.
Crawford sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cooper Kupp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kupp passes to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cooper Kupp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kupp has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cooper Kupp!