PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wojtek Samiec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Samiec
vs
Crane

165 cm
21
152 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wojtek Samiec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Crane!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samiec works over Crane's head and body with a nice combination.
Samiec staying out of range there.

Crane clinches with his opponent.

Crane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Samiec counters with a left and a right that stings Crane.
Samiec takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Crane connects with a solid leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samiec moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a one-two to the body.
Samiec shoots in looking for a takedown. Crane tries to sprawl out of it but Samiec keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crane manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Matthew Crane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crane swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Samiec counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Crane misses with a few strikes there.
Crane misses with an uppercut. Samiec saw that one coming.
Samiec lands a nice shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Samiec bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crane drives through and clinches with Samiec against the cage.

Crane breaks the clinch.
Crane wants to clinch up but Samiec keeps it at a distance.
Crane misses with a shot to the body
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.

Crane closes the distance and pushes Samiec back into the cage.
Crane lands a knee to the head.

Crane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crane looks gassed!
Crane throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Samiec counter with a right hand.
Crane wants to clinch up but Samiec keeps it at a distance.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.
Samiec is working the combinations to good effect here.
Samiec tries to clinch up.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters with a three punch combo that has Crane backing up. Crane nods at Samiec to acknowledge the strikes.
Left hook, right uppercut from Samiec.
Matthew Crane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Samiec.
Crane has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Samiec fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Samiec swats away the attempt to clinch by Crane.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Samiec swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crane throws a jab when Samiec was well out of range.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samiec cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Samiec lands a jab-cross combination.
Samiec misses with a wild combination.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samiec counters with a three punch combo that has Crane backing up. Crane nods at Samiec to acknowledge the strikes.
Samiec is looking to clinch but Crane is avoiding it.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samiec stalks Crane and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Crane's face. Crane staggers backwards, shaken.
Samiec looks for a takedown but Crane sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wojtek Samiec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Samiec counters with a left to the body.
Crane throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Samiec checks a leg kick.
A nice combination there by Samiec.
A left lands for Crane.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samiec counters with a one-two to the body.
Samiec fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Samiec staying out of range there.
Samiec moves away from the strike by Crane.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Crane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samiec shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crane defends it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Samiec.
Crane falls off balance throwing a combination
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.
Samiec displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Crane throws out the jab.
Crane doesn't manage to clinch there - Samiec circles away.
Crane misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a nice uppercut.
Samiec lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Samiec.
Crane looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Crane will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Samiec keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Crane.
Samiec moves out of range of the leg kick from Crane.
Crane throws a jab but it's blocked by Samiec.
Samiec lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Crane throws a leg kick but Samiec moved away.
Crane tries to clinch up but Samiec circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Samiec looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Crane instigates a clinch.

Crane breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samiec swats away the attempt to clinch by Crane.

Crane instigates a clinch.
Crane is breathing heavily.

Crane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samiec throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Crane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wojtek Samiec is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samiec throws a wild body kick that Crane sees coming a mile off.
Crane falls off balance throwing a combination
and Samiec counters with a left and a right that stings Crane.
Samiec throws a right and a left that both miss.
Samiec jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Samiec goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Crane wants to land a leg kick but Samiec is out of range.
A shot to the body from Crane misses
and Crane takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Samiec lands with a nice combination. Crane backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samiec uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crane.
Crane misses with a hook to the body
and Samiec counters with a left and a right that stings Crane.
Crane takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Crane throws a big shot that misses.
Samiec throws a leg kick but Crane sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.
Crane misses with a hook to the body
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.
Crane has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Crane throws out a loose jab but Samiec uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crane has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A swing and a miss from Crane.
Samiec shoots in for a takedown but Crane shows good takedown defense.

Crane forces Samiec back against the cage and clinches.
Crane has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Crane breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crane throws a looping overhand right but Samiec ducks down to avoid it.
Crane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crane takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Samiec steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Samiec looks to land a combination. Crane sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Crane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wojtek Samiec is winning the standup battle so far.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crane takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Samiec is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Samiec takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Samiec avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Samiec connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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.
Samiec checks a leg kick.
Samiec goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Crane misses with a double jab
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Samiec counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A telegraphed right hand from Crane misses the target.
Samiec lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crane circles away quickly and effectively.
Crane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Samiec counters with a right hand to the body.
Crane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crane tries to clinch up but Samiec circles away and keeps his distance.
Crane fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Samiec is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Samiec ducks under a wild hook from Crane.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samiec counters with a straight right hand.
Crane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.
Crane swings away with a body shot that misses
and Samiec counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wojtek Samiec dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Samiec blocks the body kick.
Crane throws a jab but it's blocked by Samiec.
Crane misses with an uppercut. Samiec saw that one coming.
Crane moves in looking to clinch but Samiec pushes him off.
Samiec wants to slow Crane down by chopping away at his legs.
Samiec tries to clinch but Crane moves out of range.
Samiec misses with a jab, cross combination.
Samiec sizes up Crane with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Crane misses with a combination
and Samiec counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Crane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Samiec sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crane avoids a punch combination nicely.
Samiec moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samiec tries to bum rush Crane with a series of wild strikes but Crane uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Crane closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Crane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed right hand from Crane misses the target.
Crane swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.
Crane misses with a jab to the body
and Samiec counters with a two punch combo.
Crane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Samiec sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Samiec counters with a left to the body.
Crane swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Samiec misses with a low kick.
A nice combination there by Samiec.
A slapping leg kick lands for Crane.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Crane goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Samiec lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Crane is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Samiec counters with a three punch combo that has Crane backing up. Crane nods at Samiec to acknowledge the strikes.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Samiec misses with a two punch combination.
Samiec circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crane takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Crane clinches up with Samiec and pushes him back against the cage.

Crane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crane misses with a straight left.
Crane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Samiec counters with a left to the body.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samiec swinging wildly here.
Crane lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Crane throws a leg kick but Samiec sees it coming and moves out of range.
Crane throws a combination that misses
and Samiec counters with a series of strikes. Crane will be more careful next time no doubt.
Crane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Samiec counters with a three punch combo that has Crane backing up. Crane nods at Samiec to acknowledge the strikes.
Crane misses with a combination
enabling Samiec to counter with a crisp jab.
Crane tries to clinch up.
Crane tries to clinch there but Samiec circles away.
Crane thows a body shot but no joy.
Samiec fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Samiec swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Samiec tries to clinch but Crane is having none of it.
Crane is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Crane shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Samiec throws a one two combo.
Crane throws a hook but Samiec avoids it easily.
No joy there for Samiec, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Samiec swats away the attempt to clinch by Crane.
Samiec lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crane circles away quickly and effectively.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Samiec counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crane throws a body punch but Samiec moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Crane there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Samiec doesn't manage to clinch there - Crane circles away.
Crane looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matthew Crane.
I think Crane has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Crane!