PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aydin Strickland (ranked 2727 p4p, 3886 weight class) and Carl Crutchen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Crutchen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Strickland
vs
Crutchen

150 cm
18
265
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
275
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aydin Strickland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Crutchen!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crutchen shoots in but Strickland avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Crutchen shoots in for a takedown but Strickland shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Strickland fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Crutchen is out of range.
Strickland has his takedown stuffed

and Crutchen moves into the clinch.

Crutchen manages to pull guard.
Crutchen has Strickland pulled in close to control his posture.
Crutchen keeping moving, preventing Strickland from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crutchen has control of Strickland's left arm, preventing Strickland from doing any damage.

Crutchen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strickland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crutchen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Crutchen pulls Strickland in close to his closed guard and prevents Strickland from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Crutchen wants to hit a sweep here but Strickland passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Crutchen there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crutchen tries to reverse the position but Strickland maintains control.

That's two 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.
Crutchen is squirming around, avoiding Strickland's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crutchen just holding on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crutchen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Strickland really is a fat lump.

Strickland looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Strickland avoids the attempt from Crutchen to control.
Strickland can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Crutchen is looking to escape.
Strickland throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Strickland looking to control but Crutchen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Crutchen reaches up and holds on to Strickland to control the position.
Crutchen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Crutchen tries to hold on but Strickland pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strickland prevents Crutchen from getting the reversal.
Strickland throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Crutchen because Strickland loaded up on that one.
Crutchen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aydin Strickland dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crutchen closes the distance and clinches.

Crutchen breaks from the clinch.
Strickland attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A low kick from Strickland misses

and Crutchen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strickland's guard.

Crutchen stands up and waves to Strickland to follow him.
Strickland gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Crutchen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Strickland is looking to take this one to the mat.
Crutchen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Strickland after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crutchen has Strickland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Strickland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Strickland can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aydin Strickland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crutchen manages to pull guard.

Crutchen pushes Strickland off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Crutchen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Strickland can't break the clinch.
Crutchen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Crutchen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Crutchen has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Strickland has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Strickland is looking to break free of the clinch but Crutchen has double underhooks.
Strickland drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Crutchen lands a takedown into guard.
Crutchen stopping the sweep attempt from Strickland.
Crutchen wants to pass the guard but Strickland is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strickland looking for a guillotine here but Crutchen defends easily.

Crutchen stands up and waves to Strickland to follow him.

Crutchen rushes Strickland and presses him 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!
Stalling in the clinch from Crutchen.
Crutchen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strickland has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Crutchen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Crutchen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland trying to control the position from guard on top but Crutchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Crutchen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Strickland is aware though and is defending well.
Crutchen trying to control the position here.

Crutchen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strickland defends well.

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

That's four 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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Crutchen holds on and takes a little breather.

Strickland drops back, looking for a kneebar! Crutchen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Crutchen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Crutchen!

Crutchen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Crutchen taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Crutchen 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. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strickland is defended easily by Crutchen.
Strickland misses with a wild combination.
Strickland shoots in and drives through. Crutchen sprawls well.
Crutchen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Strickland misses with a head kick.
Crutchen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Crutchen closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crutchen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Strickland fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Crutchen forces Strickland back against the cage and clinches.

Crutchen has Strickland pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Crutchen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Strickland tumbling to the mat - Crutchen dives into Strickland's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crutchen is stalling in the full guard.
More stalling from Crutchen.
Crutchen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Crutchen sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Crutchen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Strickland's head.
Crutchen looking to pass the guard.
Crutchen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Crutchen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Crutchen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Crutchen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Crutchen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Strickland is rocked!
Crutchen stays in close to Strickland's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strickland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Crutchen controlling from the top position.
Crutchen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Crutchen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strickland is keeping the position for now.

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.
Strickland doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Strickland manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Crutchen manages to get himself to full guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crutchen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strickland trying to control the position from guard on top but Crutchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crutchen pulls Strickland in close to prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strickland postures up in Crutchen's guard and throws a big left but Crutchen blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Crutchen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crutchen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight for Carl Crutchen!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Carl Crutchen!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Carl Crutchen!

Carl Crutchen wins by unanimous decision!