PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between TJ Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Cranberries - Zombie. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Crawford
vs
Stewart

179 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

172 cm
23
123 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Torment Fightwear

Brute
Ganja's Warehouse

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Stewart!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart looks to land a combination. Crawford sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stewart misses with a combination

and Crawford counters by clinching up.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Stewart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Damien Stewart has been cut.
Stewart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crawford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stewart's efforts to push away.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.
Stewart working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Stewart takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stewart tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.
Stewart tries to circle away but Crawford has him pinned against the cage.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
Crawford has Stewart pressed against the cage, preventing Stewart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Crawford working Stewart over with knees to the body.
Stewart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford lands a good knee to the midsection. Stewart won't want to take too many of those.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.
Crawford has Stewart pressed against the cage, preventing Stewart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
Stewart tries to circle away but Crawford has him pinned against the cage.
Stewart is looking to break free of the clinch but Crawford has double underhooks.
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.
Stewart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stewart takes a knee right on the jaw!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.
Knees to the body from Crawford.
Stewart is trying to force a seperation but Crawford has the dominant position.
Stewart can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Crawford scores a nice knee to the body.
Crawford has Stewart pressed against the cage, preventing Stewart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stewart is trying to push Crawford away but Crawford has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Crawford has Stewart pressed against the cage, preventing Stewart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stewart can't break the clinch.
Crawford using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stewart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch but Crawford keeps him there for the moment.
Stewart tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stewart is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stewart's efforts to push away.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stewart takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stewart working hard to break the clinch.
Crawford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stewart's efforts to push away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stewart lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.
Stewart working hard to break the clinch.
Stewart is looking to break free of the clinch but Crawford has double underhooks.
Stewart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
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 TJ Crawford will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damien Stewart's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stewart scores with a decent looking hook.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Stewart in a clinch.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stewart lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but Stewart blocks with his arms.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stewart wants to get back to striking at distance but Crawford won't allow it.
Stewart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stewart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Crawford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Crawford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stewart blocks it with crossed arms.
Crawford lands a knee to the body.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stewart is trying to push Crawford away but Crawford has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stewart is trying to break free.
TJ Crawford has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stewart is trying to break free.
Crawford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Stewart blocks it.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.
Stewart is looking to break free of the clinch but Crawford has double underhooks.
Stewart is trying to push Crawford away but Crawford has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Stewart's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stewart can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford working Stewart over with knees to the body.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling him.
Crawford scores a nice knee to the body.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Crawford keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stewart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Crawford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stewart's efforts to push away.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Stewart tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.
Crawford keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.
Stewart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stewart tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Crawford lands a knee to the head.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch but Crawford keeps him there for the moment.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Crawford lands a knee to the body.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling him.
Crawford throws a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Stewart's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart tries to circle away but Crawford has him pinned against the cage.
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Stewart blocks it.
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stewart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stewart takes a knee to the side of the body.
A frustrated look appears on Stewart's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stewart working hard to break the clinch.
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stewart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Crawford dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Damien Stewart's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Crawford tries to clinch but Stewart moves away

and Stewart counters with a nice double leg into side control. Crawford won't be happy with that.
Stewart tries to move to mount but Crawford blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford is trying to get back to his feet.
Crawford tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Crawford is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Crawford trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Crawford avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Crawford stands and steps away. Stewart gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stewart throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart lands with a cross.
Stewart scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Crawford tries to clinch but Stewart is having none of it.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Crawford closes the distance but Stewart moves to the side
enabling Stewart to counter with a crisp jab.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch but Stewart swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
TJ Crawford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stewart tries to bum rush Crawford with a series of wild strikes but Crawford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crawford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crawford wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford tries to clinch but Stewart moves out of range.
Crawford tries to clinch there but Stewart circles away.
TJ Crawford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crawford is looking to clinch.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crawford tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stewart counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stewart cracks Crawford with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stewart misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stewart closes the distance and clinches up with Crawford, looking for a takedown. Stewart pushes Crawford against the cage but Crawford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
TJ Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Stewart.
Crawford is looking to clinch.
Stewart fails to land the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Stewart scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stewart is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Crawford.
Stewart fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Stewart really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Stewart's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Crawford tries to clinch there but Stewart circles away.
Crawford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stewart.
Stewart moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stewart swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Crawford closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stewart counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Crawford dodges the punch combination from Stewart.
Crawford tries to clinch there but Stewart circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crawford defends it nicely.
Stewart fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Crawford looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Stewart circles away.
Crawford is looking to clinch.
Stewart swats away the attempt to clinch by Crawford.
Horrible takedown by Stewart or perhaps it was just good defense by Crawford which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to clinch
and Stewart counters with a straight right hand.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Damien Stewart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stewart shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Crawford's guard.

Crawford is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling him.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Crawford utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stewart tries to circle away but Crawford has him pinned against the cage.
Crawford crunches a lovely knee into Stewart's ribcage.
Crawford keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Crawford keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling him.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.
Stewart wants to get back to striking at distance but Crawford won't allow it.
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
Stewart takes a knee to the side of the body.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Stewart can't break the clinch.
Crawford with a knee to the head.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.
Stewart looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stewart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Crawford.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch but Crawford keeps him there for the moment.
Crawford putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stewart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that TJ Crawford will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damien Stewart's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Crawford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Crawford tries to clinch but Stewart moves out of range.
Stewart lands with a hook. Crawford tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Crawford tries to clinch up.
Crawford wants to clinch but Stewart slips to the side
and Stewart counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Stewart. Those never looked like landing.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Stewart keeps it at a distance.
Stewart scores with a hook to the body. Crawford takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crawford as he avoids it easily.
Crawford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stewart misses with a combination

and Crawford holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Crawford landing knees to the body.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford has Stewart pressed against the cage, preventing Stewart from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees in the clinch landing for Crawford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Stewart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stewart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Crawford is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Crawford putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stewart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Stewart blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling him.
Stewart tries to circle away but Crawford has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Crawford.
Stewart wants to get back to striking at distance but Crawford won't allow it.
Crawford prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
Crawford connects with a knee to the head.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stewart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stewart looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Crawford scores a nice knee to the body.
Crawford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stewart blocks it with crossed arms.
Crawford unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stewart lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Crawford landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Stewart's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stewart is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Stewart wants to break free but Crawford has control.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Crawford crunches a lovely knee into Stewart's ribcage.
Stewart is trying to force a seperation but Crawford has the dominant position.
Crawford connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stewart's face.

Stewart is rocked!

That has opened up Damien Stewart's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stewart wants to get back to striking at distance but Crawford won't allow it.
Stewart is still on wobbly legs! Can Crawford finish him?
Crawford lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stewart takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crawford has Stewart pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Stewart is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Crawford - that's hurt Stewart badly! Oh, another knee lands and Stewart is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Stewart doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). TJ Crawford!
Jumping up and down and very excited, TJ Crawford waved his t-shirt featuring Torment Fightwear's logo in front of the cameras.