PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Le Petit Criss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ferreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Criss's entrance music is La danse des canards. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Petit Criss
vs
Ferreira

164 cm
23
132 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

180 cm
28
145 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Le Petit Criss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Ferreira!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Criss.
Criss tries to clinch there but Ferreira circles away.
Ferreira avoids the head kick by Criss.
Criss is looking to land body kicks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Criss.
Criss misses with a head kick.
Ferreira dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Criss tries to move into range but Ferreira moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A head kick misses from Ferreira.
Criss is looking to clinch but Ferreira is avoiding it.

Ferreira drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ferreira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Criss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Criss is trying to keep Ferreira in close.
Ferreira throwing strikes from guard but Criss blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criss looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ferreira is one step ahead there.

Criss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Criss is looking for a triangle but Ferreira pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferreira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Criss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ferreira with a nice head shot there.

Criss looking for subs off his back but Ferreira has passed one foot through into half guard.

Criss actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ferreira is looking for a kimura here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ferreira lands a nice short elbow.
Criss moves into full guard.
Ferreira lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Criss lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Ferreira throwing strikes from guard but Criss blocks nicely.
Ferreira wants to control from the top but Criss keeps moving.
Ferreira keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Criss's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Criss might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Criss is trying to control the position but Ferreira postures up.

Criss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Criss looking to control.

Criss has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ferreira is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Criss.
Ferreira cracks Criss with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Criss tries to improve position but can't.
Ferreira landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ferreira scoring with punches from side control.
Criss gets back to half guard.
Ferreira is trying to control. Criss wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criss makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Criss.

Criss working for a triangle but Ferreira defends it easily.
Criss is breathing heavily.
Criss trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Criss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ferreira controls from within his opponent's guard.
Criss looking for a sweep. Not yet Criss, not yet.
Ferreira pushing down on Criss's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Criss shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ferreira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick by Criss misses
and Ferreira makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Criss tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ferreira counters with a nice uppercut.
Good shot there by Ferreira.
Ferreira lands a jab to the nose.
Criss throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Criss throws a lazy head kick

and Ferreira counters with a nice double leg into side control. Criss won't be happy with that.
Ferreira is looking to take a break and control but Criss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Criss stops Ferreira from passing to mount.
Criss is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criss is working hard here to advance position.

Ferreira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ferreira scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ferreira lands some shots froms side control.
Criss manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ferreira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Criss keeps working.
Ferreira thows a huge punch but Criss dodges it nicely.
Ferreira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Criss keeps working.

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.

Criss looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Criss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Criss is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ferreira closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Criss throws a head kick that misses
and Ferreira counters with a series of strikes. Criss will be more careful next time no doubt.
Criss with a poor takedown
and Ferreira counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Criss darts in trying to clinch

and Ferreira counters with a single leg into guard. Criss didn't expect that.
Ferreira throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Criss trying to control the position.
Ferreira wants to control from the top but Criss keeps moving.
Ferreira is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Criss escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ferreira gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ferreira is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Criss is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ferreira is aware though and is defending well.
Ferreira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Criss throws a sloppy head kick
letting Ferreira counter with a right hand.
Ferreira has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ferreira circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ferreira counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Criss takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Criss wants to clinch
and Ferreira counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Criss throws a sloppy head kick
and Ferreira counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ferreira lands with a hook. Criss tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Criss fails with the takedown

and Ferreira counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Le Petit Criss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferreira lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferreira looks up at the clock and then as Criss takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ferreira smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ferreira working the head and body with strikes.
Ferreira landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Ferreira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Criss closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ferreira to the mat! Ferreira manages to get full guard.
Criss trying to control but Ferreira is working from the bottom.

Ferreira working for a triangle but Criss defends it easily.

Ferreira is looking for a triangle but Criss pushes his legs off easily.
Criss trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ferreira has his foot on Criss's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Criss works his way back into a safe position though.
Ferreira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ferreira keeping moving, preventing Criss from controlling successfully.
Ferreira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferreira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ferreira has his foot on Criss's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Criss works his way back into a safe position though.
Criss loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Criss tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ferreira counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Le Petit Criss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Criss looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Criss fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ferreira avoids it really well and circles away.
Le Petit Criss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Criss moves in looking to clinch but Ferreira pushes him off.
Criss closes the distance and clinches up with Ferreira, looking for a takedown. Criss pushes Ferreira against the cage but Ferreira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ferreira swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Criss.
Criss throws a sloppy head kick
and Ferreira counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Criss closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ferreira counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Criss's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ferreira stopping the sweep attempt from Criss.

Criss had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ferreira defends it easily.
Ferreira trying to control the position from guard on top but Criss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Criss is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ferreira defends well.
Ferreira tries to free his leg and advance position but Criss is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Criss working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ferreira doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ferreira manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ferreira connects with a couple of short punches.
Ferreira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Criss tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James Ferreira has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Criss wants to clinch but Ferreira slips to the side
and Ferreira counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick by Criss misses
and Ferreira counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ferreira throws a nice looking combination but Criss bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Criss throws a head kick that misses
and Ferreira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Criss clinches but Ferreira breaks the clinch
and Ferreira counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four 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.
Criss tries to clinch up
and Ferreira counters with a nice leg kick.
Criss darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
James Ferreira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ferreira moves into range and connects with a jab.
Criss throws a leg kick
and Ferreira counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Le Petit Criss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Criss tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ferreira counters with a head kick. That will keep Criss thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Criss throws a sloppy head kick
and Ferreira counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Criss is lucky that one didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Ferreira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ferreira 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Ferreira!