PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Russel Crow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Cartside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russel Crow has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Crow
vs
Cartside

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Crow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Cartside!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cartside forces Crow back against the cage and clinches.
Crow can't break the clinch.

Crow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Crow.
Cartside fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crow tries to bum rush Cartside with a series of wild strikes but Cartside uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crow lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cartside circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cartside counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Crow looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cartside is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Crow wants to control but Cartside is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Crow tries to kick Cartside off but Cartside keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Cartside has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Crow is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Crow!

Cartside is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Cartside decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Crow wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Crow pushes Cartside off looking to stand but Cartside dives back in and keeps control.
Crow is breathing heavily.
Cartside keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cartside prevents Crow from improving his position.
Cartside prevents Crow from standing back up.
Cartside is looking to advance position but Crow won't allow it.
Cartside keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cartside showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Crow.

Cartside instigates a clinch.

Cartside has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Crow uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crow wants to stand and escape but instead Cartside has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cartside stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cartside is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cartside stays in close to Crow's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crow is trying to control the position but Cartside postures up.
Cartside slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cartside just content to control the position.
Crow gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Cartside controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Crow really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Crow can't escape the position.
Cartside controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rick Cartside just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crow misses with a few strikes there.
Cartside dodges the punch combination from Crow.
Cartside shoots in for a double leg but Crow sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cartside shoots for a takedown but Crow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Russel Crow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Cartside.
Cartside shoots in looking for a takedown. Crow tries to sprawl out of it but Cartside keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crow manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Crow swinging wilding here.
Crow lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Crow.
Cartside showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Crow.
Crow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crow misses with a series of wild punches.

Cartside shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cartside dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A right-left combo lands from Crow.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Crow misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Crow!
Crow tries to land a leg kick but Cartside saw it coming and moves away.
Cartside has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Crow misses with the combination.
Crow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crow scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Crow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cartside fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Crow sprawls well initially but Cartside persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Crow looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cartside moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crow tries to escape but Cartside is in control.
Cartside is staying tight to Crow's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crow prevents Cartside from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crow is pushing Cartside's head away, looking to escape. Cartside manages to hold on to the position though.
Cartside staying calm.
Cartside tries to advance to mount but can't.
Crow can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Crow being controlled for a moment.
Crow is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cartside asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Cartside is trying to get an arm triangle but Crow is defending well.
Crow is being controlled here.
Crow wants to control but Cartside postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cartside is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Crow is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Crow pushes Cartside away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cartside gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Crow tries to buck Cartside off but Cartside is having none of it.
Cartside controlling the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rick Cartside just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cartside tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Crow swivels and escapes.
Crow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Crow throws a series of punches but Cartside avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cartside misses with a takedown attempt - Crow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Crow does no damage.
Cartside slips a jab and a cross from Crow.
Crow misses with a few strikes there.
Cartside closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crow circles away.
Russel Crow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Cartside.
Crow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Crow misses with a two punch combination.
Cartside will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crow throws a right and a left that Cartside avoids nicely.
Crow throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Crow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cartside takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Crow misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No joy there for Crow, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Cartside scores with a takedown into Crow's guard.
Crow is looking to stand up but Cartside isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cartside showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Crow.
Cartside changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Crow tries to avoid it but Cartside manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Crow to the ground. Crow escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Cartside with that takedown attempt.
Crow throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cartside.
Crow misses with a few strikes there.
Crow misses with a wild combination.
Crow has a takedown stuffed.

Cartside scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rick Cartside has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cartside trying to control the position but Crow is working away.
Crow can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crow tries to escape but Cartside is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside takes a little break here. Crow wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Crow tries to bench press Cartside off him but Cartside keeps the position.

Cartside has an Americana. Crow didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Cartside is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Cartside hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rick Cartside!