PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO. TJ Crawford has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bates
vs
Crawford

187 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ken Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates shoots in but no luck this time.
Bates throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crawford is looking to clinch.
Crawford misses with a head kick.
Bates falls off balance throwing a combination
and Crawford counters with a nice body shot.
Bates shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Crawford sprawls well. Crawford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bates gets slowly back to his feet.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates scores with a hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bates is defended easily by Crawford.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates is breathing heavily.
Bates falls off balance throwing a combination

and Crawford moves into the clinch.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Bates.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Bates blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Bates wants a takedown but no success here.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Crawford using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bates's face.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bates's face.

Bates is rocked!
Bates takes a knee right on the jaw!
Oh Bates is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Crawford looking to throw knees to the head but Bates is blocking nicely.
Bates changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bates seems to have got his legs back now.
Crawford stuffs the takedown attempt from Bates. Bates gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crawford closes the distance and pushes Bates back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bates's face.
Bates changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bates moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bates fails to land with a series of punches.
Bates dives in and grabs Crawford's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crawford pushes down on Bates's head and hops out.

Crawford has Bates up against the cage in a clinch.
Crawford with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
Bates has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Crawford is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bates takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bates drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Crawford gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bates looking for a takedown.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bates takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bates is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Crawford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Crawford lands a knee to the body.
Bates blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Crawford gets underhooks to prevent Bates's takedown attempt.
Crawford crunches a lovely knee into Bates's ribcage.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.
Bates wants a takedown.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but Bates blocks with his arms.
Crawford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bates blocks it with crossed arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bates drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Crawford gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bates is looking to take this one to the mat.
Crawford landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bates goes for a takedown attempt but Crawford pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Crawford dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crawford tries to clinch but Bates moves out of range.
Crawford checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Crawford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Bates.

Bates turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Bates is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Crawford is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Crawford is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bates is controlling him well.
Crawford defending against the ground and pound.
Crawford pushes Bates away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bates gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crawford avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet but Bates drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crawford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bates. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bates thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bates scores with a couple of short elbows.

Bates stands up and beckons Crawford to his feet.
Bates throws a combination that misses

and Crawford moves into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Crawford obliges.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Bates blocks it.
Crawford looking to throw knees to the head but Bates is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates drops down looking for an ankle pick but Crawford pulls his leg out and moves away.
Crawford moves in looking to clinch but Bates pushes him off.
Bates connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Crawford momentarily.
Crawford slips a jab and a cross from Bates.
Crawford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crawford cracks Bates with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Bates in a clinch.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Bates.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bates drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Crawford obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bates blocks it with crossed arms.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Bates blocks it.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bates managing to block the knees to the body from Crawford.

Bates has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Crawford clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Crawford holding both Bates 's hands and preventing any damage.
Crawford is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bates looking for the RNC.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bates tightening his grip on Crawford, looking for the choke.
Crawford is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bates sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Crawford taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ken Bates!
Ken Bates got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'