PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cronan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Pienaar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cronan
vs
Pienaar

196 cm
27
218 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
221 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Cronan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francois Pienaar!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cronan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cronan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pienaar throws a right hand that misses

and Cronan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cronan.
Pienaar misses with an elbow over the top.
Cronan misses with a body punch.
Cronan blocking some punches.
Pienaar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cronan lands a shot to the body.
Pienaar lands a left hand.
Pienaar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pienaar working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cronan.
Cronan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pienaar is keeping busy.
Pienaar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pienaar throws an elbow but it misses.
Cronan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pienaar's elbow.
Pienaar misses with some punches.
Cronan lands a hook that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cronan gets through Pienaar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pienaar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cronan misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cronan.
Pienaar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cronan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cronan struggles to land a body shot inside as Pienaar controls his hands.
Cronan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cronan lands an elbow just above Pienaar 's eye.
Cronan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pienaar tries to break the clinch but Cronan is controlling the position.
Pienaar is looking to break free of the clinch but Cronan has double underhooks.
Cronan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pienaar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pienaar misses with a body punch.
Pienaar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cronan takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pienaar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pienaar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pienaar tries to work over Cronan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cronan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cronan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cronan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cronan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Pienaar breaks the clinch.

Cronan moves into range and clinches up with Pienaar.
Pienaar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cronan lands an uppercut.
Pienaar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pienaar prevents a body shot from Cronan.
A short uppercut from Cronan.
Cronan lands an uppercut.
Come on Cronan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pienaar lands a hook that snaps the head of Cronan backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronan prevents a body shot from Pienaar.
Cronan wants to stall.
Cronan working aggressively here.
Cronan lands a hook that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
Cronan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cronan scores with a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Cronan.
A short body shot lands from Cronan as the two fighters clinch.
Cronan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
Cronan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cronan is trying to stall.
Pienaar tries to break the clinch but Cronan is controlling the position.
Cronan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
Cronan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cronan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pienaar misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pienaar has a couple of punches blocked by Cronan.
Pienaar managing to block the knees to the body from Cronan.
Cronan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pienaar throws an elbow but it misses.
Cronan taking a breather.
Cronan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
Cronan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Cronan.
Pienaar looks gassed!
Pienaar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cronan throws an elbow that misses.
Cronan is struggling to control the position.
Pienaar lands a right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cronan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cronan taking a breather.
Pienaar misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cronan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pienaar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cronan blocks a jab.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pienaar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cronan slips a jab and a cross from Pienaar.
Francois Pienaar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cronan lands with a right hand.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch but Pienaar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pienaar throws a predictable looking body shot

and Cronan counters with a crisp one two that drops Pienaar! Cronan thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Pienaar to his feet! Pienaar is in big trouble!

Pienaar is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cronan misses with a two punch combination.
Pienaar is still on wobbly legs! Can Cronan finish him?
Cronan is looking to clinch but Pienaar is avoiding it.
Pienaar seems to have recovered his senses.
Cronan has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cronan there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cronan throws a nice looking combination but Pienaar bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pienaar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cronan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cronan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pienaar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch but Pienaar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pienaar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cronan pinned against the cage. Cronan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cronan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pienaar.
Pienaar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cronan moves out of range as Pienaar strikes.
Cronan lands a nice looking body shot.
Matt Cronan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pienaar is breathing heavily.
Cronan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pienaar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pienaar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cronan throws a one two combo.
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!
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pienaar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pienaar shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pienaar dodges the punch combination from Cronan.
Pienaar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matt Cronan is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cronan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cronan doesn't manage to clinch there - Pienaar circles away.
Cronan ducks under a wild hook from Pienaar.
Pienaar throws a hook to the side of Cronan's head but Cronan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pienaar paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pienaar misses with a combination
and Cronan counters with a stiff right hand.
Pienaar tries to bum rush Cronan with a series of wild strikes but Cronan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pienaar throws a hook but Cronan blocks it.
Cronan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cronan blocks a jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Cronan scores with a four punch combination!
A shot to the liver by Cronan. Beautiful body shot.
Pienaar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cronan doesn't manage to clinch there - Pienaar circles away.

Cronan forces Pienaar back against the cage and clinches.
Cronan gets through Pienaar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cronan prevents a body shot from Pienaar.
Cronan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pienaar can do to turn this around?
Cronan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cronan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cronan'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.
Cronan lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronan lands a hook that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Cronan.
Cronan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matt Cronan has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Cronan.
Pienaar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pienaar swings wildly with an uppercut but Cronan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cronan lands with a short shot to the head.
Cronan lands a shoulder strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Cronan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cronan lands with a short shot to the head.
Cronan lands a nice uppercut.
Cronan looking to stall.
Cronan lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Cronan.
Cronan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cronan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.
Cronan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cronan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cronan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cronan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pienaar or not.
Cronan pushes Pienaar back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cronan stalling the fight.
Still in the clinch, Cronan scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cronan lands an uppercut.
Cronan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cronan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Cronan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cronan dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cronan moves away from the strike by Pienaar.
Cronan wants to clinch.
Pienaar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cronan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cronan is looking to clinch but Pienaar is avoiding it.

Cronan lands a big right hand that sends Pienaar crashing to the mat! Cronan stays standing though and waves Pienaar back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pienaar misses with a wild combination.
Cronan staying out of range there.
Pienaar moves out of range of the leg kick from Cronan.
Cronan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pienaar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cronan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pienaar thows a body shot but no joy.
Pienaar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cronan throws a series of punches but Pienaar moves out of range.
Pienaar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cronan tries to clinch up.
Cronan doesn't manage to clinch there - Pienaar circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cronan catches Pienaar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cronan is looking to clinch.
Cronan wants to clinch up but Pienaar keeps it at a distance.
Pienaar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cronan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pienaar.
Pienaar swats away the attempt to clinch by Cronan.
Cronan doesn't manage to clinch there - Pienaar circles away.
Cronan wants to clinch up but Pienaar keeps it at a distance.
Pienaar misses with a left hand

and Cronan counters by clinching up.
Pienaar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Cronan fails to land.
Cronan lands with a short shot to the head.
Cronan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pienaar throws a head punch that misses.
Cronan tries a body shot but Pienaar blocks it.
Cronan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cronan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pienaar backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cronan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cronan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cronan lands a nice shot to the body.
Cronan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Pienaar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cronan scores with a shoulder strike.
Cronan misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Cronan.
Pienaar wants to get back to striking at distance but Cronan won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cronan scores with a shoulder strike.
Cronan blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cronan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cronan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cronan digs a right hand into Pienaar's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pienaar's gas tank.
Cronan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Cronan.
Pienaar tries to throw a body punch but Cronan avoids it by throwing Pienaar back against the cage.
Cronan digs a right hand underneath Pienaar's ribcage. Pienaar let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cronan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cronan.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cronan.
Cronan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pienaar throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pienaar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cronan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pienaar drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cronan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cronan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pienaar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cronan lands with a right that hurts Pienaar. Pienaar looks to clinch but Cronan throws a short knee that drops Pienaar. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch and Knee). Matt Cronan!