PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Charles (ranked 1536 p4p, 151 weight class) and Aldo Crespo (ranked 2395 p4p, 204 weight class). Charles comes to the cage accompanied by Renegades Of Funk/ Rage Against The Machine. Crespo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Toxic Waltz. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Charles
vs
Crespo

175 cm
27
154 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
152 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Bee Krazy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aldo Crespo!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crespo avoids the body shot from Charles.
Charles avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Charles misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Charles.

Crespo tries to keep at a distance but Charles has taken the fight into the clinch.
Crespo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Charles avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Crespo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Crespo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Charles connects with a body shot.

Crespo gets tackled into the cage by Charles. Charles maintains the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Charles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles misses with a punch to the body.
Charles lands an uppercut.
Charles tries to throw a body punch but Crespo avoids it by throwing Charles back against the cage.
A short left from Charles.
Charles pushes Crespo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Charles fails to land.
Charles tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Charles throws a head punch that misses.
Charles taking a breather.
Charles lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Charles prevents Crespo from breaking the clinch.
Charles working aggressively here.
Charles can't find room to land a body shot as Crespo controls the action.
Charles has a couple of punches blocked by Crespo.
Charles tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Crespo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crespo throws a body shot but no joy.
Charles wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Crespo misses with an uppercut.
Charles drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Charles has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Nice shot lands for Crespo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Charles clinches with his opponent.

Crespo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Charles tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Crespo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Crespo tries for a kimura but Charles is defending well.
Crespo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Charles looking for a sweep but Crespo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Charles is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles taking shots to the head.
Charles slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Crespo.
Charles is trying to get back to full guard.
Charles trying to control from the bottom.
Charles tries to roll over but Crespo keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Crespo moves into full mount! Charles won't be happy about that!
Crespo wants to control the pace but Charles is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crespo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
My spies in Training Center inform me that Crespo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Crespo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Charles really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Crespo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Charles looks a forlorn figure.
Charles can't escape the position.
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!
Crespo looking to control but Charles is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Charles is working to get back to half guard.

Crespo has control of Charles's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Charles regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aldo Crespo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Charles throws a hook to the side of Crespo's head but Crespo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Charles changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Crespo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Charles trying to control the action but Crespo is working from the bottom.
Charles working away.
Crespo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Charles is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Crespo sees it coming and defends easily.

Charles wants to work for an arm triangle but Crespo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Charles seems to be working for a kimura but Crespo defends the submission attempt.
Charles missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crespo trying to hold on to Charles's head to control him but Charles postures up.
Charles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crespo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Charles is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crespo defends it well.
Crespo trying to control here.

Crespo looking for submissions off his back.

Crespo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Charles pulls his head out easily.

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.

Charles is working for a submission of some sort.

Charles is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crespo defends it well.
Crespo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Charles scores with a couple of nice shots.

Crespo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Charles 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crespo striking from the bottom.

Crespo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Charles seems to be working for a kimura but Crespo defends the submission attempt.
Charles is keen to just control but Crespo is a slippery customer.
Charles is really struggling to control Crespo but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Crespo looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Charles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Crespo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Charles is working for a kimura but Crespo is defending it quite comfortably.
Charles thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Crespo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Charles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crespo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Charles is in close to Crespo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Charles postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Charles dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Charles fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Crespo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Charles takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Charles throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Crespo goes for a double leg but Charles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Charles continues to drive forward.
Crespo's corner calls for a 1-2. Crespo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A head kick misses from Crespo.
Charles seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Charles throws a chopping leg kick but Crespo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Crespo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Charles.
Crespo scores with a jab. Charles acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crespo takes one to the side of the head.

Charles rushes Crespo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Charles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crespo dodges an elbow strike from Charles.
Crespo working aggressively here.
Charles throws an elbow that misses.
Charles struggles to land a body shot inside as Crespo controls his hands.
Mike Charles has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Charles lands an uppercut.
Charles throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Charles blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Crespo blocking some punches.
Charles is trying to pull guard but Crespo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Charles misses with a hook from the clinch.
Charles tries a body shot but Crespo blocks it.

Crespo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Crespo.

Crespo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crespo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aldo Crespo has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Charles is looking for a sweep.

Crespo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Charles is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Crespo off and has taken his back!
Charles keeps control of the position as Crespo tries to break free.
Charles connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Crespo to escape the position.
Crespo tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crespo defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Charles's arms.
Crespo trying to control but not successfully.

Charles is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Crespo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Crespo for a finish.

Charles has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Crespo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Crespo is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crespo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Crespo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Charles gets his way!
Charles keeps control of the position as Crespo tries to break free.
Crespo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Charles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Crespo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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 Mike Charles.
I think Charles has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Charles!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Mike Charles waved his t-shirt featuring Bee Krazy 's logo in front of the cameras.