PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mother Earth Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Crew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Earth Jr
vs
Crew

158 cm
20
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mother Earth Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, The Crew!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crew shoots in for a double leg but Earth Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Crew just misses with a punch to the body.
Earth Jr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crew circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crew. Earth Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Earth Jr moves away.
Earth Jr misses with a body shot.

Crew shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Earth Jr napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Earth Jr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Crew wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Crew controlling the position.
Earth Jr can't do much from the bottom here.
Earth Jr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Crew is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crew controls the position.
Crew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Earth Jr keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crew taking a breather here.
Earth Jr wants to control but Crew postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Earth Jr closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Crew's guard.
Earth Jr wants to control from the top but Crew keeps moving.
Crew keeping full guard, as Earth Jr tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crew seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Crew keeping moving, preventing Earth Jr from controlling successfully.

Mother Earth Jr has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Earth Jr looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Crew!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Earth Jr sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crew is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Earth Jr throws some wild stikes that Crew manages to avoid easily.
Crew holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Earth Jr tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Earth Jr moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Crew has worked his arm free - good work by Crew!
Earth Jr could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Crew is looking for a sweep.
Crew struggling a bit here.
Crew manages to work his way to half guard, despite Earth Jr's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crew trying to hold on to Earth Jr's head to control him but Earth Jr postures up.

Earth Jr looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Crew is defending against the submission attempts here by Earth Jr.
Earth Jr is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Earth Jr is looking for a kimura but Crew is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Earth Jr to get the leverage.
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 Mother Earth Jr will probably get the nod.
That's time! Earth Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crew thows a body shot but no joy.
Earth Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Crew counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Crew engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Earth Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Crew gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Crew wants to control from the top but Earth Jr keeps moving.
Crew is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crew wants to control from the top but Earth Jr keeps moving.
Crew controlling from the top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. The Crew wasn't active enough on the ground.
Earth Jr takes a swing at Crew's ribcage but misses.
Crew shoots for a double leg takedown but Earth Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Crew's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Earth Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Crew.
Earth Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crew was well out of range. Poor timing from Earth Jr.

Earth Jr dives in and scores a takedown into Crew's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Earth Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Crew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Earth Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crew works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Crew has his hands on Earth Jr's head, controlling the position.
Earth Jr wants to control from the top but Crew keeps moving.
Earth Jr throwing strikes but missing.
Earth Jr throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crew keeping full guard, as Earth Jr tries to pass.
Earth Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Crew.
The Crew has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crew is pulling down on Earth Jr's head to control his posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A looping hook to the body misses from Earth Jr. Crew does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Earth Jr shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Earth Jr showed some decent athleticism there.
Earth Jr is trying to control. Crew wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Earth Jr trying to control from Crew's half guard. Crew has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Earth Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crew swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crew pulls Earth Jr in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crew keeping moving, preventing Earth Jr from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mother Earth Jr will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Earth Jr throws a jab but it's blocked by Crew.
Crew throws a body punch but Earth Jr moves out of range.
Earth Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Earth Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crew as he avoids it easily.
Crew pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Crew throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Crew avoids the body shot from Earth Jr.
Crew misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Earth Jr stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crew keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crew tries for a takedown but Earth Jr circles away easily

and Earth Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
Crew seems a little lost for a moment, as Earth Jr dominates the positioning.
Crew is trying to control Earth Jr's posture but Earth Jr avoids it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
I wouldn't like to be where Crew is right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Earth Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Crew's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Earth Jr tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Earth Jr wants to control but Crew is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Earth Jr misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Earth Jr goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Crew rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Earth Jr's guard! Nice work there by Crew!
Crew sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Crew passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crew is trying to control the action in half guard but Earth Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crew passes the guard and advances to mount!
Crew controlling his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crew prevents Earth Jr from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mother Earth Jr.
Well Earth Jr 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for The Crew!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Mother Earth Jr!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Mother Earth Jr!

Mother Earth Jr wins by split decision!