PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damian Lamb (ranked 4855 p4p, 4857 weight class) and Francesco Crescenzo (ranked 306 p4p, 308 weight class). Francesco Crescenzo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Lamb
vs
Crescenzo

184 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Lamb!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francesco Crescenzo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lamb shoots for a double leg takedown but Crescenzo sprawls well. He's pushed Lamb's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Crescenzo. No joy for Lamb on that attempt.
Crescenzo shoots in for a takedown but Lamb shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Crescenzo stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Lamb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lamb misses with a leg kick

and Crescenzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lamb won't be happy with that.

Lamb throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Crescenzo rushes Lamb and presses him up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamb has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Crescenzo gets control of Lamb's arms and successfully pulls guard. Crescenzo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lamb trying to move into half guard but instead Crescenzo has managed to sweep!

Lamb is trying to control the position but Crescenzo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crescenzo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lamb's guard.
Lamb keeping full guard, as Crescenzo tries to pass.
Lamb looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crescenzo passes into half guard.
Lamb pushes Crescenzo off looking to stand but Crescenzo dives back in and keeps control.

Lamb looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Crescenzo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Still in half guard, Crescenzo seems content to control.
Lamb won't allow Crescenzo to pass to mount.
Crescenzo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Lamb looking for a kimura from the bottom but Crescenzo passes into side control!
Lamb is breathing heavily.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Lamb is trying to work for a sweep but Crescenzo has mounted him!
Lamb takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crescenzo with shots to the head and body - Lamb looks very uncomfortable down there.

Crescenzo looking to secure an arm triangle but Lamb defends it well.
Lamb keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crescenzo content just to control the position here.
Crescenzo lands a couple of good shots and Lamb has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crescenzo working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Crescenzo wants to control the position but Lamb frees himself and scrambles - Crescenzo manages to regain control in side control.
Lamb takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
You can see the frustration on Lamb's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lamb tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Crescenzo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lamb can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Crescenzo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Crescenzo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Crescenzo throws a head kick but Lamb moves out of range.
Crescenzo goes for a double leg but Lamb avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lamb continues to drive forward.
Crescenzo throws a hook but Lamb blocks it.
Crescenzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lamb as he avoids it easily.
Lamb throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Crescenzo.
Crescenzo leaves Lamb with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Crescenzo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lamb gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crescenzo controlling the pace.
Crescenzo is breathing heavily.
Lamb tries to kick Crescenzo off but Crescenzo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lamb is looking to improve his position.
Lamb trying to control from the bottom.
Lamb trying to get back to full guard but Crescenzo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Crescenzo wants to control the pace but Lamb is squirming around nicely.
Crescenzo is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Francesco Crescenzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crescenzo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lamb sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Lamb tries to roll over but Crescenzo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crescenzo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lamb is looking to improve his position.
Crescenzo trying to mount his opponent but Lamb defends it.
Lamb trying to control here.

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.
Lamb trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The referee warns Lamb that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lamb tries to hold on but Crescenzo postures up.
Crescenzo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lamb?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crescenzo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Crescenzo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Crescenzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Crescenzo as Lamb shoots in.
Lamb tries to clinch up

and Crescenzo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Crescenzo.
Crescenzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lamb is retaining full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Crescenzo working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Crescenzo postures up in Lamb's guard and throws a big left but Lamb blocks it.
Lamb tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lamb wants to stand but Crescenzo is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lamb is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Crescenzo stays in close to Lamb's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crescenzo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lamb is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lamb is looking to clinch.
Crescenzo avoids the head kick by Lamb.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crescenzo is defended easily by Lamb.
Lamb tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crescenzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crescenzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Crescenzo avoids the body shot from Lamb.
Crescenzo with the counter takedown but Lamb avoids it easily.
Crescenzo tries a head kick but it misses.
Crescenzo misses with a head kick.

Crescenzo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lamb sprawls well initially but Crescenzo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lamb desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Lamb actively working from the bottom here.
Crescenzo working over Lamb with some ground and pound. Lamb looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crescenzo wants to pass the guard but Lamb is defending well.
Lamb is pressing down on Crescenzo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lamb will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Crescenzo wants to control from the top but Lamb keeps moving.
Lamb not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Crescenzo wants to get up but he can't break Lamb's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Crescenzo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Crescenzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lamb swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Crescenzo counters with a shoot takedown. Lamb fights it but they end up in guard.
Crescenzo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lamb throws his legs up looking for a submission but Crescenzo uses it to pass to side control.
Crescenzo controls the position.
Crescenzo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lamb gets back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Crescenzo really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lamb gets caught flat footed, as Crescenzo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Lamb manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Crescenzo is trying to pull guard but Lamb turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Crescenzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Crescenzo jumps guard but Lamb turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Damian Lamb has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francesco Crescenzo.

Lamb manages to break the clinch.
Crescenzo misses with a two punch combination.

Lamb closes the distance and clinches.
Crescenzo is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Lamb jumps guard.
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!
Lamb trying to keep a closed guard but Crescenzo is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crescenzo stopping the sweep attempt from Lamb.
Lamb is working hard here to advance position.
Crescenzo pushes down on Lamb's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lamb is staying active underneath Crescenzo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lamb is looking to control Crescenzo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lamb avoid being mounted?
Crescenzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lamb defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Crescenzo is trying to control the action in half guard but Lamb is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Lamb looking for submissions off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lamb fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crescenzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lamb manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Crescenzo on his heels. He'll look to pass Crescenzo's guard now, I'm sure.
Lamb trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Crescenzo looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Lamb is defending well. Crescenzo quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Lamb has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Crescenzo celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Francesco Crescenzo!
Francesco Crescenzo is the new featherweight champion!