PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zac Crawford (ranked 4349 p4p, 6482 weight class) and Toni Island (ranked 395 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Crawford
vs
Island

183 cm
22
145
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
130
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zac Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Toni Island!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crawford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Island pinned against the cage. Island gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Island tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford takes a kick to the side of the head.
Crawford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Island circles away.

Island gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Crawford to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Island manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Island moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Island drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Island is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Crawford is controlling him.
Island utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Island looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.
Island has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Island keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Crawford slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Crawford stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Island shoots in.
Crawford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Island was well out of range. Poor timing from Crawford.
Island circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crawford misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Crawford is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zac Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Crawford moves to clinch but Island breaks away
and Island counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Island lands with a nice body punch.
Crawford is looking to chop away at Island's legs.
A nice side step and Island releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Island clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to break free.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but Island turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but Island has him pressed against the cage.

Island breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crawford tries to bum rush Island with a series of wild strikes but Island uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crawford leaves Island with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Island circles away.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Island shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Island.
Crawford lands with a kick to the temple. Island shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford misses with the body kick

and Island moves into the clinch.
Island is looking for a takedown.
Crawford looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Island holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Island pulls guard.
Island looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crawford is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Island dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Island tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Crawford manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Island shoots in for a double leg but Crawford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Island fails with the takedown.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Island keeps it at a distance.

Crawford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Crawford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Island is defending well for now.
Crawford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Island drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zac Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Island.

Island escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Crawford with that takedown attempt.
Crawford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Island feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Island rushes Crawford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Island tries for a takedown. No joy.

Island pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crawford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Island sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Island has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crawford shoots in for a double leg but Island sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Crawford throws a body punch but Island moves out of range.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Island uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crawford.
Island will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crawford dives in for a single leg takedown but Island sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Crawford is trying to force a seperation but Island has the dominant position.
Island controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Island managing to block the knees to the body from Crawford.
Crawford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Island.
Island gets underhooks to prevent Crawford's takedown attempt.
Crawford tries to pull guard but Island won't allow it.
Island fails to pull guard.
Crawford taking a breather.

Island pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Island dives in for a single leg takedown but Crawford sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Crawford seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Island shoots in for a double leg but Crawford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Island is breathing heavily.

Island closes the distance and clinches.

Island breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Island tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Crawford dives in and scores a takedown into Island's guard.
Crawford stands and throws Island's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Crawford tries for a kimura but Island is defending well.
Crawford scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Island!
Crawford controlling the position easily from mount.
Crawford tries to control but Island wriggling away.
Crawford thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Crawford looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Island is in a horrible position here. Crawford smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zac Crawford dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Crawford looks to land a left hand but Island moved out of range nicely.
Island tries to counter by closing the distance.
Crawford wants to clinch.

Island shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Crawford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Crawford uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Island shows good takedown defense.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Island kicks Crawford off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Island has closed the distance and engaged Crawford in a clinch.
Crawford misses with a punch to the body.
Island tries to pull guard but Crawford won't allow it.
Crawford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Crawford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zac Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Island's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Crawford gets the takedown into side control.
Crawford wants to control but Island is keeping him busy.
Crawford working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford lands some shots froms side control.
Island is trying to control Crawford's posture but Crawford avoids it.
Island stops Crawford from passing to mount.

Crawford decides to stand back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Island clinches.

Island escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Crawford with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Island pinned against the cage. Island gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Island shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Island napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Crawford stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Crawford shoots in looking for a takedown. Island tries to sprawl out of it but Crawford keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Island manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Island throws a counter combo.

Crawford moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Island walks away with a smile on his face. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crawford shoots in for a double leg but Island sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Island is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Crawford slaps away a takedown attempt from Island, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Crawford has his takedown stuffed
and Island counters with a stiff right hand.
Crawford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crawford looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Toni Island.
I think Island has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Toni Island!