PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neck Cranka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Christos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christos is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hell's Ditch. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cranka
vs
Christos

165 cm
25
140 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

171 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Neck Cranka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roman Christos!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christos misses with a wild body shot.
Christos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Christos blocks a head kick by Cranka.
Christos fails to land with a series of punches.
Christos loads up on a big right hand but Cranka slips the punch.
Christos misses the jab.

Christos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Christos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Christos is looking to stand up but Cranka won't let him.
Cranka manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Christos wants to control but Cranka is having none of it.
Cranka thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christos bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Christos stopping the sweep attempt from Cranka.
Christos wants to pass the guard but Cranka is keeping the position.
Christos stopping the sweep attempt from Cranka.
Christos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cranka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cranka working for a triangle but Christos defends it easily.
Christos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Christos stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cranka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cranka keeps Christos at a distance using the push kick.
Cranka slips a straight right by Christos.
Cranka moves out of range as Christos strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Cranka as Christos shoots in.
Horrible takedown by Cranka or perhaps it was just good defense by Christos which made him look bad.
Cranka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cranka lands a high kick!
Christos lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Neck Cranka has been cut.
Cranka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cranka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Christos counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranka scores with a head kick.
Christos swings for the body but Cranka moves out of range.

Cranka feints and as Christos raises his hands in defense, Cranka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Christos wants to sweep here but Cranka controlling him for the moment.
Christos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cranka.
Cranka postures up in Christos's guard and throws a big left but Christos blocks it.
Cranka is looking to work some ground and pound but Christos has wrist control.
Cranka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cranka wants to pass the guard but Christos is keeping the position.
Christos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cranka postures up in Christos's guard and throws a big left but Christos blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cranka dodges the punch combination from Christos.
Cranka misses with a takedown attempt
and Christos counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neck Cranka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranka misses with a kick to the body.
Christos blocks the body kick.
Cranka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Christos manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Christos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cranka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Cranka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cranka has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Christos tries to roll over but Cranka keeps him under control.
Cranka trying to mount his opponent but Christos defends it.
Christos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neck Cranka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Neck Cranka's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A nice combination there by Christos.
Cranka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Christos cracks Cranka with an open hand slap.
Cranka throws a head kick that misses.
Cranka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Christos.
Christos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Christos with a hook.
Cranka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cranka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Christos throws a body punch but Cranka moves out of range.
Christos throws a right hand that Cranka ducks under and follows up with a left that Cranka also avoids with ease.
A shot to de liver by Christos. Beautiful body shot.
Christos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cranka.
Cranka avoids the body shot from Christos.
Cranka fails with the takedown
and Christos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranka shoots in but Christos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cranka tries for a takedown but Christos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neck Cranka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranka misses with a takedown

and Christos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Christos.
Christos lands a left hand.
Cranka tries to throw a body punch but Christos avoids it by throwing Cranka back against the cage.
Cranka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Roman Christos has been cut.
Cranka trying to stall but Christos improves his position.
Cranka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Christos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cranka trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Christos makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Cranka breaks the clinch.
Cranka lands a head kick. Christos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cranka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Christos counters with a series of strikes. Cranka will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Christos misses.
Cranka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Christos misses with a hook. Cranka ducked under it nicely.
Christos tries to clinch but Cranka is having none of it.

Cranka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Christos to the mat! Christos manages to get full guard.
Cranka forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cranka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cranka's back!

Christos working for a choke but Cranka is defending well.
Christos punishes Cranka with strikes from the back mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cranka's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cranka manages to reverse the position and now he's in Christos's guard. Nice work there by Cranka.
Cranka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christos trying to keep a closed guard but Cranka is proving a slippery customer.
Cranka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Christos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cranka.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cranka. Christos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cranka tries for a takedown but Christos circles away easily
and Christos counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Christos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cranka lands with a slapping head kick.
Cranka misses with a wild body shot.
Cranka with a poor takedown
and Christos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A punch combination from Christos misses.
Christos avoids the head kick by Cranka.
Cranka blocks a jab.
Cranka takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cranka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cranka scoring well with a low kick there.
Christos swinging wildly here.
Cranka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Christos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A big right from Cranka misses.
Christos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cranka. Cranka obviously looking to wear him down.
Roman Christos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cranka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cranka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cranka avoids the body shot from Christos.
Cranka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cranka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Christos throws a series of punches but Cranka avoids them all with ease.
Cranka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cranka.
Neck Cranka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cranka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Christos is fending him off so far but Cranka persists. Nope, Christos circles away and we're back to standing.
Christos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cranka fails with a takedown attempt.
Cranka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neck Cranka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Christos counters with a stiff right hand.
Christos throws an overhand right that lands on Cranka's shoulder, as Cranka tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Cranka.
Cranka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Christos lands with a nice combination. Cranka backs away looking to recover.
Christos tries to clinch up.
Christos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roman Christos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Christos.
Cranka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Christos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cranka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Christos!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranka throwing strikes here but Christos is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cranka throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cranka throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Christos tries to hold on but Cranka pushes him away.
Christos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cranka throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Cranka goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Christos turns into him and now he's in Cranka's guard.

Christos stands up from Cranka's guard - Christos perhaps looking for a knockout.
Christos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cranka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christos swings for the body but Cranka moves out of range.
Cranka lands a high kick!
Christos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cranka. Cranka obviously looking to wear him down.
Christos throws a hook to the side of Cranka's head but Cranka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Christos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cranka connects with a high kick.
Christos looks to throw the jab but Cranka is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Cranka.
Cranka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cranka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cranka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cranka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Christos trying his best to control but Cranka has mounted him.
Christos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Christos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cranka.
Christos is looking to improve his position but Cranka isn't that keen on the idea.
Cranka lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cranka landing punches.
Christos tries to lock up and control but Cranka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cranka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neck Cranka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cranka 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neck Cranka!