PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Crim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiptanui comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Uniikki - Pojat On Poikii feat: Elastinen & Spekti kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Crim
vs
Kiptanui

173 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

173 cm
20
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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Frank`s TASTE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Crim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crim tries to close the distance and clinch but Kiptanui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kiptanui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kiptanui blocks a head kick by Crim.

Kiptanui gets caught flat footed, as Crim shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Crim stopping the sweep attempt from Kiptanui.

Kiptanui working for a triangle but Crim defends it easily.
Crim thows a big elbow that misses.

Crim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kiptanui has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Crim has managed to get both his arms back between Kiptanui's legs - danger averted.
Crim stands and throws Kiptanui's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Crim throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crim is trying to ground and pound but Kiptanui uses the momentary lack of control by Crim to regain half guard.
Crim throwing shots but Kiptanui is blocking nicely.
Crim winds up and cracks Kiptanui with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kiptanui trying to control here.
Crim has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kiptanui sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kiptanui looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kiptanui wants to get back to full guard.
Kiptanui moves into full guard.
Crim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kiptanui looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Crim passes into half guard.

Crim seems to be working for a kimura but Kiptanui defends the submission attempt.
Kiptanui wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui gets back to full guard.
Kiptanui wants to sweep here but Crim controlling him for the moment.
Crim distracts Kiptanui with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kiptanui swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kiptanui is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crim is aware though and is defending well.
Kiptanui looks gassed!

Kiptanui throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kiptanui working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crim.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kiptanui is keeping the position for now.
Kiptanui is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Crim looking to sit in guard and control but Kiptanui gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Crim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kiptanui gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kiptanui controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Kiptanui will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kiptanui takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kiptanui keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kiptanui keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Crim's efforts to push away.
Crim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice left hand lands by Crim.
Crim can't break the clinch.
Crim scores with a shot to the side of Kiptanui's head.
Crim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kiptanui is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kiptanui looking for a takedown.
Crim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kiptanui looking for a takedown.
Thomas Crim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Kiptanui prevents the takedown attempt.

Crim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crim blocks a head kick by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui is looking to chop away at Crim's legs.
Kiptanui is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crim blocks a head kick by Kiptanui.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui slaps away a takedown attempt from Crim, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kiptanui is breathing heavily.
Crim delivers a nice body kick.
Crim works the jab nicely.
Kiptanui shoots for a takedown but Crim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Crim wants to clinch.
Kiptanui throws a head kick that misses.

Crim fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kiptanui, pushing him back against the cage.
Crim gets through Kiptanui's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kiptanui prevents the takedown attempt.
Crim is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kiptanui gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Crim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crim goes for a takedown attempt but Kiptanui pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kiptanui wants to clinch up but Crim keeps it at a distance.
Crim shoots in for a takedown but Kiptanui shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Kiptanui closes the distance and pushes Crim back into the cage.
A body shot lands from Crim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Kiptanui.
Crim is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kiptanui working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kiptanui lands a nice shot to the body.
Kiptanui leaning his opponent against the cage.

Kiptanui gets control of Crim's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kiptanui will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kiptanui working a defensive guard here.

Kiptanui had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crim defends it easily.

Kiptanui is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Crim defends well.
Crim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crim drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kiptanui looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kiptanui looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kiptanui!
Crim is looking to regain half guard here but Kiptanui keeps moving and retains side control.
Kiptanui in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Crim takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Kiptanui is trying to get an arm triangle but Crim is defending well.
Kiptanui working the body and head with strikes.
Crim throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kiptanui creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Crim sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Crim is looking to regain half guard here but Kiptanui keeps moving and retains side control.
Kiptanui wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crim keeps working.

Kiptanui wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Crim, who protects the arm well.
Crim keeping his opponent close.

Kiptanui looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Kiptanui showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kiptanui blocks a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Crim as he connects with a hook.

Crim shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Kiptanui has one foot on Crim's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kiptanui throws a body punch but Crim moves out of range.
Kiptanui keeps the fight on the outside.
Kiptanui throws a push kick but Crim slaps the foot to one side.
Crim swats away the attempt to clinch by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui tries to close the distance and clinch up but Crim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Crim misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Crim scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gabriel Kiptanui has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kiptanui wants to control but Crim is keeping busy.
Crim is trying to control. Kiptanui wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crim is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Kiptanui still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Kiptanui has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Crim is looking for a sweep.

Kiptanui tries for a kimura but Crim is defending well.
Crim tries to buck Kiptanui off but Kiptanui is having none of it.

Kiptanui is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Crim knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kiptanui looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kiptanui throws a strike aimed at the side of Crim's head but Crim avoids it well.

Kiptanui is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Crim has escaped the position, nice work there.
Crim throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Crim tries to buck Kiptanui off but Kiptanui is having none of it.

Kiptanui stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A good leg kick by Crim.
Gabriel Kiptanui is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui tries to clinch up.
Crim jabs Kiptanui right on the nose. Kiptanui blinks but takes it well.

Crim closes the distance and pushes Kiptanui back into the cage.
Crim prevents a takedown attempt there.
Crim has had enough of the clinch but Kiptanui keeps him there for the moment.
Crim lands a hook to the side of the head.
Crim tries to score a body lock takedown but Kiptanui shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thomas Crim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch on the inside from Crim fails to land.
Kiptanui tries for a takedown. No joy.
Crim lands a hook to the side of the head.
Crim drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kiptanui lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crim pushes Kiptanui back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Crim tries for a takedown but Kiptanui manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Crim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiptanui tries to land a knee to the head but Crim blocks with his arms.
Crim tries to circle away but Kiptanui has him pinned against the cage.

Kiptanui gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kiptanui looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kiptanui is pressing down on Crim's thigh, looking to free his foot. Crim is holding on for now.
Kiptanui takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Crim wants to control but Kiptanui is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gabriel Kiptanui.
I've got Kiptanui 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Kiptanui!