PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ankur Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Crosher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Crosher has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ankur Khan's chin.

Khan
vs
Crosher

161 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
142 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ankur Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Crosher!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Khan rushes Crosher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Khan.
Crosher keeps control of Khan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Crosher content to slow the pace in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Khan throws an elbow but misses.
Khan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Crosher is keeping busy.
Khan jumps guard but Crosher stands there with Khan around his waist. Khan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Khan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crosher smiles and moves away.

Crosher darts in and clinches Khan up against the cage.
Khan can't find room to land a body shot as Crosher controls the action.
Khan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan lands a shoulder strike.
Crosher effectively controlling the action here.
A right hand to the body from Crosher.
Khan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Crosher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Khan's efforts to push away.
Khan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Khan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Khan gets control of Crosher's arms and successfully pulls guard. Khan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Crosher is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Crosher's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan keeping full guard, as Crosher tries to pass.
Crosher is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Crosher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Matt Crosher hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Khan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Khan fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ankur Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Matt Crosher has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan looking to throw knees to the head but Crosher is blocking nicely.
Khan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crosher has him pressed against the cage.
Khan throws a punch but it's blocked by Crosher.
Khan working aggressively here.
Khan lands with a short shot to the head.
Khan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Khan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khan stalling.
Khan tries a knee to the head but Crosher blocks it.
Khan is trying to pull guard but Crosher has him pressed against the cage.
Crosher blocking some punches.
Khan trying to stall but Crosher improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crosher effectively controlling the action here.

Crosher turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Crosher manages to end up in side control.
Khan can't do much from the bottom here.
Khan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Crosher off and has taken his back!

Khan is looking for the choke from the back position but Crosher is controlling his hands well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Khan looking for the RNC.

Khan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Crosher defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Crosher is trying to shake Khan off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Khan won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ankur Khan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Crosher's cut.
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.

Crosher instigates a clinch.

Khan pulls Crosher into guard.

Khan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crosher is aware though and is defending well.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crosher can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crosher is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crosher controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Crosher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Khan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Crosher has passed into half guard!
Crosher controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Crosher.

Crosher is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Khan's half guard.

Khan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Crosher pulls his head out easily.

Crosher is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Crosher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan wants to get back to full guard but Crosher has mounted him!
Khan wants to hold on but Crosher pushes him away.
Khan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Khan looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Crosher has the hooks in. Khan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Crosher is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Khan defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crosher really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Khan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khan is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Crosher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Crosher's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Khan gets tackled into the cage by Crosher. Crosher maintains the clinch.
Khan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Khan with a knee to the head.
Khan working hard to break the clinch.
Crosher stalls.
Crosher has Khan pressed against the cage, preventing Khan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Khan jumps into guard, dragging Crosher to the mat.

Khan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Crosher has passed into half guard!

Khan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Crosher pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crosher controlling the action here.

Khan looking for submissions off his back.

Khan has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Crosher escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Crosher!
Crosher in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Crosher presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Khan wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Crosher controlling well, preventing Khan from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crosher has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Crosher keeps control of the position as Khan tries to break free.

Crosher is looking for the choke from the back position but Khan is controlling his hands well.
Khan tries to roll but Crosher sticks to his back.
Crosher has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Khan's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan breaks Crosher's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Khan advances position into side control!

Khan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Crosher, who protects the arm well.
Crosher wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ankur Khan.
I think Khan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Ankur Khan!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Ankur Khan!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Matt Crosher!

Ankur Khan wins by split decision!