PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Crier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crier has chosen Red Hot Chili Peppers - Get On Top as his entrance music. 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.

Dillard
vs
Crier

170 cm
27
150 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

170 cm
25
155 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Dillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Crier!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dillard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crier.
Crier thows a body shot but no joy.

Crier fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dillard to the ground. Crier is now in Dillard's guard.
Dillard working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dillard has control of Crier's left arm, preventing Crier from doing any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dillard looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kirk Dillard wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Crier closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dillard's guard.
Crier throws a big right hand that misses.
Crier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Crier looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dillard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Crier defends well.
Crier works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Dillard trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Crier.
Dillard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crier.
Crier scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dillard wants to improve his position but Crier is controlling well.
Crier not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Crier thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dillard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dillard is looking for a triangle but Crier pushes his legs off easily.

Dillard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Crier postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crier postures up and lands a big shot to Dillard's brow.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dillard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Crier is looking to work some ground and pound but Dillard has wrist control.
Crier scoring with some ground and pound.
Dillard keeping moving, preventing Crier from controlling successfully.
Crier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crier connects with a couple of short punches.
Crier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Crier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crier throwing strikes from guard but Dillard blocks nicely.
Crier working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Crier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Crier postures up.
Crier is working Dillard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crier throwing strikes but missing.
Crier landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Crier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Crier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crier content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Dillard has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Crier is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Dillard.
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!
Crier working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Dillard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Crier's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ground and pound from Crier.
Crier performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Crier lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dillard is trying to control but Crier passes into side control!
Dillard takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Crier dominated that round.
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.

Crier misses with a hook.
Dillard is looking to clinch but Crier is avoiding it.

Crier shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Crier trying to control but Dillard is working from the bottom.

Dillard looking for a guillotine here but Crier defends easily.
Crier distracts Dillard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Crier trying to control but Dillard is working from the bottom.
Crier stays in close to Dillard's body and controls the position.

Dillard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard wants to sweep here but Crier controlling him for the moment.

Dillard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dillard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Crier working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dillard's head.
Crier working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dillard's head.
Crier lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Crier lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Crier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dillard 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.

Crier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dillard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Crier has managed to get both his arms back between Dillard's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crier wants to control from the top but Dillard keeps moving.
Dillard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dillard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Crier manages to get himself to full 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!
Crier is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dillard gets back to full guard.
Crier seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dillard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Crier passes into half guard.
Crier seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dillard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Crier throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Dillard looking for subs from the bottom but Crier mounts him!
Johnny Crier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crier prevents Dillard from getting the reversal.
Crier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Crier lands a big elbow.
Crier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Crier lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crier working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Crier is landing with some decent strikes but Dillard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Crier pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Dillard is looking to improve his position but Crier isn't that keen on the idea.
Dillard tries to lock up and control but Crier gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Crier scoring with strikes but Dillard is staying in there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dillard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Crier landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Crier 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. And we move into the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Crier.
Crier scoring with punches and elbows.
Dillard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Crier wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Crier working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Dillard manages to get back to half guard.
Dillard wants to sweep but Crier has passed to side control!
Dillard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Crier works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
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!
Crier in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Crier controls the position from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dillard is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crier in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dillard is looking to reverse the position.
Crier lands an elbow.
Dillard is looking for a sweep.
Dillard wants to control but Crier postures up.
Crier scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dillard to see if he's OK.
Check out the look on Crier's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Crier in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillard taking a bit of punishment here - Crier scoring with strikes.
Dillard tries to bench press Crier off him but Crier keeps the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Check out the look on Crier's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Dillard is rocked!
Crier has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Oh Dillard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
BOOM! Crier connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Crier lands a big elbow - Dillard is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Dillard is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Johnny Crier!