PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Sosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Crush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Crush is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sosa
vs
Crush

174 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jerome Sosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Crush!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crush clinches with his opponent.

Crush breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crush looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Crush. That's going to slow Sosa down.
Nice shot lands for Crush.
Sosa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Crush.
Crush dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sosa. That did some damage!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sosa enables Crush to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sosa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sosa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crush.
Crush is looking to work some ground and pound but Sosa has wrist control.
Sosa wants to get back to his feet but Crush is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sosa has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Crush has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right from Crush on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa misses with some punches.
Crush tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sosa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crush walks away with a smile on his face. Sosa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crush buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Crush connects with a leg kick. Sosa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Crush doesn't manage to clinch there - Sosa circles away.

Crush clinches with his opponent.
Sosa misses with some punches.
Sosa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sosa is trying to pull guard but Crush has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crush tries a knee to the head but Sosa blocks it.
Sosa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crush walks away with a smile on his face. Sosa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Sosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crush changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sosa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Crush tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sosa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Crush in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sosa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Crush has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Crush tries to score with some ground and pound. Sosa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sosa really is a fat lump.
Crush prevents Sosa from escaping the position.
Crush tries to score with some ground and pound. Sosa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa defending against the ground and pound.
Sosa is pushing Crush's head away, looking to escape. Crush manages to hold on to the position though.
Crush in side control, throwing shots but Sosa defends.
Crush tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sosa is trying to buck Crush off.
Sosa regains half guard, as Crush was trying to land strikes.
Sosa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crush.
Crush throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sosa to regain full guard.
Sosa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crush.
Crush must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sosa is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crush trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sosa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Crush counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Crush thows a body kick. Sosa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sloppy strikes from Crush. Those never looked like landing.

Crush closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sosa did well to prevent Crush getting side control.
Crush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sosa defending well though.
Crush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Crush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crush missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sosa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Crush dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Crush fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sosa, pushing him back against the cage.
Sosa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sosa is working for takedown but Crush is calmly controlling the position for now.
Crush with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sosa effectively controlling the action here.
Crush connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sosa's face.

It looks like Jerome Sosa has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sosa is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crush blocks an elbow strike.
Sosa tries to score a body lock takedown but Crush shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Sosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crush using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sosa misses with an elbow strike.
Crush throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sosa tries to land a knee to the head but Crush blocks with his arms.
Sosa trying to stall but Crush improves his position.
Crush tries to land a knee to the head but Sosa blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sosa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Crush tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Crush won't allow it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Crush - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sosa trying to control the position but instead, Crush has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sosa into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crush connects with a knee to the head.
Sosa tries to land a knee to the head but Crush blocks with his arms.
Crush has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crush looking to throw knees to the head but Sosa is blocking nicely.
Sosa stalling.
Sosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Crush just stands there and leans against the cage.
Crush misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Crush forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sosa trying to control the position but instead, Crush has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sosa into the cage.
Crush with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Crush won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crush throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sosa tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Crush showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jerome Sosa'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. This is the final round!

Crush fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sosa sprawls well initially but Crush persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Crush prevents Sosa from standing back up.
Sosa is trying to get back to full guard.
Crush thows a huge punch but Sosa dodges it nicely.
Sosa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crush.
Sosa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crush's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crush's back!

Crush is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Crush tries to clinch up but Sosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Crush scores with a one two! Sosa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sosa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Crush.
Crush tries to land a front kick but Sosa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As Crush tries to get set, Sosa tries to push him back and clinch up but Crush manages to avoid the attempt.

Crush throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sosa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Crush is in Sosa's guard.
Crush with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crush trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Crush throwing strikes from guard but Sosa blocks nicely.
Crush throwing strikes but missing.
Sosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Crush throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crush tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Crush shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Crush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sosa defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Crush is pressing down on Sosa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sosa is holding on for now.
Crush misses with a head shot. Sosa uses the momentum to regain guard.
Crush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crush is looking to work some ground and pound but Sosa has wrist control.
Sosa striking off his back but it's not causing Crush any problems.
Sosa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Crush shoots in and gets a takedown into Sosa's guard.
Crush throwing strikes from guard but Sosa blocks nicely.
Crush throwing strikes but missing.
Crush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sosa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sosa is trying to keep Crush in close.

Sosa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crush is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crush throws a big right hand that misses.
Crush works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Crush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Crush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Crush missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sosa defending well though.
Sosa tries to get to full guard but Crush has control of the leg.
Crush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sosa defending well though.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sosa is trying to stand up here but Crush is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd cheers as Crush lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sosa doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Crush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crush 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Crush!