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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Crawley (ranked 440 p4p, 1701 weight class) and Hayato Sakuraba (ranked 68 p4p, 266 weight class). Crawley comes into the arena with Jewelry - One More Time blaring out of the sound system. 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.
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| 191 cm
32
205
14 - 8 - 2 |
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180 cm
32
202
12 - 13 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Billy Crawley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Hayato Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Crawley's corner calls for a 1-2. Crawley obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Crawley misses with a low kick as Sakuraba jumps back.
Sakuraba drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Crawley defends it well.
Sakuraba dives in and scores a takedown into Crawley's guard.
Sakuraba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Crawley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crawley wants to stand up but Sakuraba is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Crawley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crawley wants to get back to his feet but Sakuraba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Crawley looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Sakuraba throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Crawley counters with a right hand to the body.
Sakuraba misses with a right hand
and Crawley counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sakuraba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crawley's waist but Crawley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sakuraba off to one side.
Sakuraba slips under a jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Crawley moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba connects with a jab.
Sakuraba smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Crawley misses with a head kick.
Billy Crawley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba cracks a nice hook into Crawley's ribs.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sakuraba tries for a takedown but Crawley sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A leg kick checked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba feints the counter takedown.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawley misses with a wild body shot.
Sakuraba has his takedown stuffed
enabling Crawley to counter with a crisp jab.
Billy Crawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.
Sakuraba swings widly with a right hand
and Crawley counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Sakuraba throws a body shot but no joy.
Crawley attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses the shot to the body.
Crawley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakuraba.
Crawley looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crawley.
Crawley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Sakuraba misses.
Crawley throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Billy Crawley dominated that round.
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.
Crawley throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakuraba checks a leg kick nicely.
Sakuraba tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Crawley gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crawley moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Billy Crawley is winning the standup battle so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawley misses with a low kick.
Sakuraba changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Crawley slaps away a takedown attempt from Sakuraba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Crawley circles away from the clinch attempt
and Crawley counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crawley turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Crawley misses with a straight right.
And Sakuraba tries to counter it with a takedown but Crawley pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sakuraba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawley is fending him off so far but Sakuraba persists. Nope, Crawley circles away and we're back to standing.
Crawley misses with a hook.
And Sakuraba tries to counter it with a takedown but Crawley pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Crawley moved out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawley scores with the left hand. Sakuraba knows he should have avoided that one.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Crawley sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Billy Crawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.
Crawley slips a straight right by Sakuraba.
Crawley swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Crawley slips a jab from Sakuraba.
Crawley misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Crawley darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Crawley feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sakuraba sprawling to the canvas! Sakuraba rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Crawley finish him?!
Sakuraba is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakuraba fails with the takedown
and Crawley counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sakuraba throws a right hand that misses
and Crawley counters with a slapping leg kick.
Crawley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sakuraba can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Billy Crawley dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
A nice leg kick from Crawley, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sakuraba goes for a double leg but Crawley avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Crawley continues to drive forward.
Crawley lands with a hook. Sakuraba tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Crawley tries to move into range but Sakuraba moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sakuraba shoots for a double leg takedown but Crawley sprawls well. He's pushed Sakuraba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Crawley wants to get back to his feet but Sakuraba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba wants to control from the top but Crawley keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sakuraba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakuraba's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sakuraba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sakuraba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Crawley keeping moving, preventing Sakuraba from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sakuraba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sakuraba with a nice head shot there.
Sakuraba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crawley's head.
Hayato Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba stands up over Crawley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuraba throws a big elbow that misses.
Crawley wants to stand but Sakuraba is controlling the position.
Crawley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sakuraba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Crawley manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Crawley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sakurabas head.
Crawley makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sakuraba tries to pull guard but Crawley holds him up against the cage and eventually Sakuraba drops back down to his feet.
Billy Crawley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayato Sakuraba.
Sakuraba jumps guard but Crawley stands there with Sakuraba around his waist. Sakuraba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Crawley lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crawley breaks from the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawley lands a big head kick that sends Sakuraba tumbling to the mat! Crawley takes a step backwards and waves Sakuraba back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Crawley connects with an inside leg kick.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
It looked like Crawley wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sakuraba misses with a looping left.
Crawley with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Crawley scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Billy Crawley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Crawley.
Crawley ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
A jab from Crawley finds it's way through Sakuraba's defenses.
Crawley scores with a leg kick.
It looks like Crawley has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Crawley turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut
and Crawley connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Crawley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Crawley, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Crawley!
Billy Crawley decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
39% |
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