PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Notkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denny Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Notkonen
vs
Crane

194 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Esa Notkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Denny Crane!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Notkonen tries to close the distance and clinch but Crane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Notkonen tries to clinch but Crane moves out of range.
Crane has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Crane there as he acknowledges the shot.
Crane avoids the body shot from Notkonen.
Notkonen tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Notkonen.
Notkonen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Crane blocks a head kick by Notkonen.
Crane takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Notkonen misses with a head kick.
Nice uppercut there from Notkonen.
Crane has a takedown stuffed.
Denny Crane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crane looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Notkonen is fending him off so far but Crane persists. Nope, Notkonen circles away and we're back to standing.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Notkonen as he jumps to the side.
Esa Notkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Crane.
Crane looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Notkonen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Crane sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Crane looks gassed!
Crane shoots in for a takedown but Notkonen shows good takedown defense.
Notkonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Horrible takedown by Crane or perhaps it was just good defense by Notkonen which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notkonen cracks the inside of Crane's front leg.
Crane has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Notkonen.

Crane feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Crane slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Crane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Notkonen has escaped the position, nice work there.

Crane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Notkonen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Crane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Notkonen has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notkonen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Crane has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Crane jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Notkonen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Notkonen and Crane has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Crane tries for a kimura but Notkonen is defending well.

Crane tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Crane has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane tries to move into full mount but can't pass Notkonen's legs.

Crane goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Notkonen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Crane but great work by Notkonen.
Crane manages to get back to half guard.
Crane is pressing down on Notkonen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Notkonen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Crane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notkonen wants to get up but he can't break Crane's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Crane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Crane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crane looking for a sweep. Not yet Crane, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Notkonen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crane tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Notkonen swivels and escapes.
Crane tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Notkonen swivels and escapes.
Notkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crane shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Notkonen pinned against the cage. Notkonen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Esa Notkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Crane.
Nice body punch from Notkonen.
Notkonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Crane looks for a takedown but Notkonen sprawls well.
Notkonen lands with a slapping head kick.
Horrible takedown by Crane or perhaps it was just good defense by Notkonen which made him look bad.
Horrible takedown by Crane or perhaps it was just good defense by Notkonen which made him look bad.
Notkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Crane or perhaps it was just good defense by Notkonen which made him look bad.
Danga de danga de dang - Notkonen scores with a four punch combination!
Crane tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Notkonen swivels and escapes.
Crane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Notkonen tries to avoid it but Crane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Notkonen to the ground. Notkonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Notkonen tests Crane's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Crane chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Notkonen can pounce on him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane fails to land the takedown.

Crane closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Crane is trying to move to mount but Notkonen reverses beautifully and ends up in Crane's guard.

Crane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Notkonen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Notkonen preventing the sweep.

Crane throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Crane has a closed guard, preventing Notkonen from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Notkonen tries to kick Crane off but Crane keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Crane wants to pass to mount but Notkonen is defending the position.

Crane seems to be looking for submissions.

Crane 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.

Crane is trying to work for a kimura but Notkonen is defending well.

Crane is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Notkonen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Notkonen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Crane on the ground.

Crane seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Notkonen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Notkonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Crane shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Notkonen pinned against the cage. Notkonen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crane takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Notkonen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Crane falls off balance throwing a combination
and Notkonen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Crane is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Notkonen lands a high kick!
Crane misses with a takedown attempt
and Notkonen counters with a nice body kick.
Crane looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Notkonen. No joy for Crane on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice takedown defense from Notkonen. No joy for Crane on that attempt.
Crane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Notkonen tries to avoid it but Crane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Notkonen to the ground. Notkonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Crane crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Notkonen - the referee stops the clock and Crane gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Notkonen. Crane manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Notkonen lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Notkonen dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Notkonen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esa Notkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Crane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Notkonen as he jumps to the side.
Notkonen throws a head kick but Crane moves out of range.
Crane tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Notkonen swivels and escapes.
Esa Notkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Crane.
Crane gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Horrible takedown by Crane or perhaps it was just good defense by Notkonen which made him look bad.
Crane shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Notkonen but Notkonen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Notkonen lands with a kick to the temple. Crane shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Notkonen lands with a kick to the temple. Crane shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Crane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Notkonen as he jumps to the side.
A shot to de liver by Notkonen. Beautiful body shot.
Crane tries for a takedown but Notkonen circles away easily
and Notkonen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Notkonen is looking to wear down Crane with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Notkonen as he jumps to the side.
Crane fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notkonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Crane 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Crane looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Notkonen.
Crane fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Notkonen.
Notkonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Notkonen cracks a nice hook into Crane's ribs.
Notkonen throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.
Crane shoots in but no luck this time.
Notkonen lands a slapping body shot.
Notkonen throws a head kick that Crane semi-blocks.
Notkonen throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.

Crane closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Crane lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crane advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notkonen prevents Crane from moving into mount.

Crane swings around for an armbar but Notkonen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Crane's guard.

Crane had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Notkonen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Crane Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Notkonen's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Notkonen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Crane.
Even with his hooks in, Crane manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Crane looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Notkonen won't enjoy being in this position. Crane looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Notkonen is tapping - it's over boys! Crane picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Denny Crane!