PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Becker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denny Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane has chosen TOUCHED as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Luke Becker had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Denny Crane is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Becker
vs
Crane

182 cm
26
224 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

185 cm
23
215 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Becker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Denny Crane!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crane shoots in and drives through. Becker sprawls well.
Becker slaps away a takedown attempt from Crane, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Luke Becker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Crane.

Becker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Crane did well to prevent Becker getting side control.
Becker trying to control the pace.
Becker prevents Crane from improving his position.
Becker not doing much here.
Becker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane tries to get to full guard but Becker has control of the leg.

Crane looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Becker is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Crane missing with punches from the bottom.
Crane is looking for a sweep. Becker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crane is pressing down on Becker's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Crane has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Becker 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 Crane.
Crane looks gassed!

That's two 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.
Becker is staying tight to Crane's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Crane tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Becker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Crane's face as Becker controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crane tries to buck Becker off but Becker is having none of it.
Crane is trying to escape the position but Becker is controlling the position.
Crane regains half guard.
Crane punching from the bottom.
Becker not doing much here.
Becker has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Luke Becker just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Crane doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Becker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Crane's guard.
Becker controls from within his opponent's guard.
Crane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crane can't keep his opponent in guard - Becker advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Becker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker blocks the strikes from Crane.
Becker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Crane tries to roll over but Becker keeps him under control.
Well, if Becker is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Becker seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Crane for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crane drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Luke Becker just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Crane scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Becker wants to improve his position but Crane is controlling well.
Becker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Becker.

Crane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Becker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Crane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Crane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Becker wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker looking to control.

Becker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Crane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Crane tries to free his leg and advance position but Becker is retaining full guard.

Crane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crane throwing strikes from guard but Becker blocks nicely.

Becker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Becker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane is pushing down on Becker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Becker is fighting to maintain full guard but Crane has managed to sneak the leg through.

Becker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Crane is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Becker keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Crane is trying to work for a kimura but Becker is defending well.
Becker manages to get to full guard.

Becker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Crane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Becker wants to sweep here but Crane controlling him for the moment.
Luke Becker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Becker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Crane drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Crane jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Becker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crane defends it easily.
Becker is trying to control the position but Crane postures up.

Crane drops back looking for a leg! Becker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Becker manages to kick Crane off! Crane jumps back into Becker's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Crane!
Crane is trying desperately to improve position.
Becker controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crane throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Becker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Becker dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Becker scores with a takedown into Crane's guard.

Crane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Crane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Becker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Becker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Becker sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Crane had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Becker defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Becker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker stands and throws Crane's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Becker slows the pace down.
Crane is trying to get back to half guard.
Becker has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Crane!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Becker looking to control and managing it successfully.
Crane is desperately trying to improve his position but Becker has a good base and remains in mount.
Becker controlling from mount.
Crane is trying to escape the mount.
Denny Crane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Becker content just to control the position here.
Crane is looking to improve his position but Becker isn't that keen on the idea.
Becker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Luke Becker just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Crane shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Becker counters with a single leg into guard. Crane didn't expect that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becker content to stall in guard here.
Crane wants to sweep but no luck.
Becker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Crane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crane being controlled here, momentarily.
Crane can't keep his opponent in guard - Becker advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Becker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Becker has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Becker!