PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesti Vihervaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane's entrance music is Broken Bones - Decapitated. A fine choice. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Crane
vs
Vihervaara

200 cm
26
287 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

190 cm
42
246 lbs
24 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichabod Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Ernesti Vihervaara!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vihervaara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vihervaara wants it to stay on the feet.

Crane drives through and clinches with Vihervaara against the cage.
Vihervaara looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vihervaara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Crane just stands there and leans against the cage.
Crane can't find room to land a body shot as Vihervaara controls the action.
Crane throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crane tries to land knees in the clinch but Vihervaara avoids the damage to the body.
Vihervaara working hard to break the clinch.
Crane scores with a shoulder strike.
Vihervaara is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane tries to score a body lock takedown but Vihervaara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Crane is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vihervaara is defending well for now.
Crane prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vihervaara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crane throws a quick inside leg kick.

Vihervaara gets a takedown into half guard.
Crane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Crane is working hard here to advance position.
Vihervaara tries to pass to full mount but Crane defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vihervaara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crane keeps working.
Crane is trying to get back to full guard.
Crane keeping control of the position.
Vihervaara looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Crane gets back to full guard.
Crane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane trying to keep a closed guard but Vihervaara is proving a slippery customer.
Vihervaara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Crane pulls Vihervaara in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crane shoots and misses

and Vihervaara counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Crane!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichabod Crane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vihervaara working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crane can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vihervaara off and has taken his back!
Vihervaara avoids the strikes from Crane.
Crane has good solid back control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vihervaara just trying to survive but Crane is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Crane controlling the positon.
Crane loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Vihervaara hold on?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crane is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Vihervaara up.
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 Ichabod Crane will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Crane cracks a nice hook into Vihervaara's ribs.
Crane scores with a jab to the body.
Crane circles away from the clinch attempt.

Vihervaara gets caught flat footed, as Crane shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Crane slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Crane trying to control but Vihervaara is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vihervaara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vihervaara keeping moving, preventing Crane from controlling successfully.
Crane looking to sit in guard and control but Vihervaara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane has his hands on Vihervaara's head, controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Crane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vihervaara's guard.

Crane controls from within his opponent's guard.

Crane got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vihervaara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Crane has managed to get both his arms back between Vihervaara's legs - danger averted.
Crane slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Crane got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vihervaara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Crane has managed to get both his arms back between Vihervaara's legs - danger averted.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vihervaara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vihervaara tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crane showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vihervaara throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.
Crane is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vihervaara throws a body punch but Crane moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Crane. Beautiful body shot.
Vihervaara takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Crane connects with a right hand. Vihervaara shakes it off.
Vihervaara tries to clinch
and Crane counters with a nice uppercut.
Vihervaara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crane is fending him off so far but Vihervaara persists. Nope, Crane circles away and we're back to standing.
Crane throws a nice head kick!
Sloppy strikes from Vihervaara. Those never looked like landing.
Ichabod Crane is winning the standup battle so far.
Vihervaara walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Crane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ichabod Crane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crane scores with a jab to the jaw.
Crane is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vihervaara can do to turn this around?
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!

Crane moves into the clinch successfully.
Vihervaara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Crane lands a body shot.
Crane is working Vihervaara over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vihervaara breaks the clinch.
Crane throws a head kick that misses.
Crane lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vihervaara circles away quickly and effectively.
Crane throws a half hearted mid kick.
Crane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Crane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Crane instigates a clinch.
Crane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vihervaara taking a breather.
Crane lands an uppercut.
Crane misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichabod Crane dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Vihervaara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crane half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Crane takes a swing at Vihervaara's ribcage but misses.
Vihervaara looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Crane is looking to wear down Vihervaara with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Crane scores with a jab. Vihervaara acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Crane tries to land a front kick but Vihervaara steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Vihervaara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vihervaara.
Crane's corner calls for a 1-2. Crane obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vihervaara looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Crane appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vihervaara avoids the head kick by Crane.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vihervaara has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vihervaara there as he acknowledges the shot.
Crane throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vihervaara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane lunges at Vihervaara with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vihervaara's hand.

Vihervaara closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vihervaara lands in his opponent's guard.
Vihervaara tries to free his leg and advance position but Crane is retaining full guard.

Crane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vihervaara gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crane is on top in guard.

Crane looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane postures up.
Crane chips away with some ground and pound.
Crane stopping the sweep attempt from Vihervaara.
Vihervaara wants to improve his position but instead Crane has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vihervaara trying to control from the bottom.
Crane uses his free foot to push down on Vihervaara's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Vihervaara.
Crane content just to control the position here.
Crane scoring with strikes but Vihervaara is staying in there.
Crane looking to finish Vihervaara with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vihervaara!
Vihervaara is desperately trying to improve his position but Crane has a good base and remains in mount.
Crane lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Vihervaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crane looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vihervaara tries to reverse the position but Crane maintains control.
Crane content just to control the position here.
Crane is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vihervaara can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Crane controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vihervaara tries to hold on but Crane postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichabod Crane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Crane 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichabod Crane!
Ichabod Crane was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.