PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robert Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Pheonix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Crawford
vs
Pheonix

165 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Pheonix!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pheonix wants to clinch up but Crawford keeps it at a distance.
Pheonix throws the kick towards the body but Crawford avoids it.
Pheonix is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Pheonix rushes Crawford and presses him up against the cage.

Pheonix breaks from the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pheonix, right into the meat.
Pheonix throws a left and a right that both miss
and Crawford counters with a left and a right that stings Pheonix.
Pheonix lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crawford circles away quickly and effectively.

Pheonix moves into the clinch successfully.

Pheonix manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pheonix bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Crawford's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pheonix preventing the sweep.
Pheonix missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Crawford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pheonix stands up from Crawford's guard - Pheonix perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pheonix.
Crawford lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Pheonix drives through and clinches with Crawford against the cage.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Pheonix.
Pheonix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crawford's elbow.
Pheonix lands with a left to the head.

Pheonix escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Pheonix closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Crawford is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pheonix pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Pheonix pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crawford tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pheonix circles away.
No joy there for Crawford, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown by Crawford or perhaps it was just good defense by Pheonix which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pheonix as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Crawford with that takedown attempt.
Pheonix scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pheonix drives through and clinches with Crawford against the cage.
Pheonix stalling.

Pheonix jumps into guard, dragging Crawford to the mat.

Pheonix is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Crawford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pheonix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Crawford takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pheonix changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pheonix takes the fight into the clinch.
Crawford tries for a takedown but Pheonix manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix stalling against the cage.
Pheonix is trying to drag Crawford to the mat but Crawford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pheonix is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Crawford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Pheonix jumps guard.
Pheonix is pulling down on Crawford's head to control his posture.

Pheonix pushes Crawford off and gets back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pheonix fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Crawford, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Pheonix dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pheonix tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crawford lands a high kick!
Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Pheonix shoots in.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt.
Crawford tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pheonix manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Pheonix instigates a clinch.

Pheonix's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pheonix defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Crawford.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pheonix fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Crawford sprawls well initially but Pheonix persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pheonix moves nicely into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Pheonix goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Crawford rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pheonix's guard! Nice work there by Crawford!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pheonix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Crawford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pheonix lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Crawford!
Pheonix tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix landing strikes from the mount and Crawford is in trouble!
Pheonix controlling his opponent.
Ricky Pheonix has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pheonix jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Crawford manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford seems a little lost for a moment, as Pheonix dominates the positioning.
Pheonix lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Pheonix stands up and beckons Crawford to his feet.
Crawford tries to clinch there but Pheonix circles away.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Pheonix shows good takedown defense.
Pheonix looks for the body kick but Crawford saw that one coming.

Pheonix gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pheonix pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Crawford tries to keep at a distance but Pheonix has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix working Crawford over with knees to the body.

Pheonix pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pheonix is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crawford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Crawford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Crawford tries to keep at a distance but Pheonix has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pheonix breaks from the clinch.

Pheonix pushes Crawford up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pheonix pulls Crawford into guard.
Pheonix lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Crawford!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Pheonix 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pheonix throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crawford is defended easily by Pheonix.
Crawford pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Pheonix has Crawford up against the cage in a clinch.
Crawford letting Pheonix take a breather here.

Pheonix breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford moves in looking to clinch but Pheonix pushes him off.

Pheonix gets a clinch.

Pheonix successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pheonix takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pheonix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crawford is aware though and is defending well.
Crawford is fighting to break Pheonix's control of his arms but Pheonix is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Crawford wanted to stand there but Pheonix had control of the position.
Pheonix is controlling Crawford's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pheonix 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.
Crawford has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pheonix is proving hard to escape from.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pheonix keeping full guard, as Crawford tries to pass.
Pheonix has Crawford pulled in close to control his posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ricky Pheonix hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Crawford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pheonix sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix misses with the combination.
Pheonix shoots in but Crawford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pheonix fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pheonix shoots for a double leg takedown but Crawford sprawls well. He's pushed Pheonix's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pheonix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crawford somewhat.

Pheonix pushes Crawford up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice elbow from Pheonix.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Crawford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Crawford pulls guard.

Pheonix gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Pheonix. Those never looked like landing.

Crawford gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Crawford is working an open guard so Pheonix takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pheonix moves into the clinch successfully.
Robert Crawford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Pheonix is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crawford tries to break the clinch but Pheonix is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Pheonix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pheonix has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Pheonix!