PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Camron Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Genki Sodo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Genki Sodo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Crawford
vs
Sodo

165 cm
23
151 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

176 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Camron Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Genki Sodo!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crawford swats away the attempt to clinch by Sodo.
Sodo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sodo shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Crawford throws a head kick but Sodo moves out of range.
Sodo fails with the takedown.
Sodo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crawford connects with a jab.
Sodo ducks under a wild hook from Crawford.
Sodo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genki Sodo.
Sodo shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Sodo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Crawford moves into the clinch.
Crawford scores with a knee to the head.
Sodo avoids a wild elbow strike from Crawford.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Crawford slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crawford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sodo shoots and misses
and Crawford counters with a straight right hand.
Sodo misses with a takedown
and Crawford counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sodo looks gassed!
Crawford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sodo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Crawford counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sodo with a poor takedown

and Crawford counters by moving into the clinch.
Sodo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Crawford is pushing Sodo up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Crawford comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Crawford wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crawford lands an elbow inside that Sodo shrugs off.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Crawford lands with a right to the head.
Crawford can't break the clinch.
Crawford tries a knee to the head but Sodo blocks it.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Crawford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sodo has him pressed against the ropes.
Crawford is trying to break the clinch but Sodo has him pressed against the ropes.
Sodo fails to pull guard.
Crawford looking to slow down the pace here.
Sodo keeps control of Crawford as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Crawford.
Crawford is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford throws a knee to the head but misses.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.
Sodo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crawford.
Sodo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Camron Crawford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sodo clinches.
Crawford looking to throw knees to the head but Sodo is blocking nicely.
Crawford wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crawford wants to get back to striking at distance but Sodo won't allow it.
Crawford wants to break free but Sodo has control.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crawford waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Sodo.
Sodo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Crawford counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Sodo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Crawford is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet.

Sodo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Crawford rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sodo's guard! Nice work there by Crawford!
Sodo wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sodo working for a triangle but Crawford defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Camron Crawford dominated that round.
That's time! Crawford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crawford moves into the clinch.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Sodo.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Crawford throws an elbow but misses.
Crawford lands an elbow just above Sodo 's eye.
Crawford is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sodo managing to block the knees to the body from Crawford.
Sodo blocks an elbow strike from Crawford.

Crawford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Crawford moves into range and clinches up with Sodo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sodo tries for a takedown but Crawford manages to get underhooks.
Sodo keeps control of Crawford as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Crawford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crawford wants to break free but Sodo has control.

Crawford breaks the clinch.
Sodo misses with a takedown attempt
and Crawford counters with a straight right hand.
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genki Sodo.
Sodo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crawford misses with a straight right.
Sodo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Crawford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Crawford.
Crawford throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Sodo jumps guard but Crawford stands there with Sodo around his waist. Sodo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Crawford gets underhooks to prevent Sodo's takedown attempt.
Crawford is trying to break the clinch but Sodo has him pressed against the ropes.
Crawford taking a breather.
Crawford throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Crawford with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford lands an elbow inside that Sodo shrugs off.
Crawford is looking to control Sodo's arms but Sodo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Crawford has his back to the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crawford misses with a punch on the inside.
Crawford lands an elbow inside.
Crawford misses with an elbow over the top.
Sodo avoiding damage as Crawford throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Crawford.
Sodo blocks an elbow strike from Crawford.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Crawford.
Sodo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crawford smiles and moves away.
Sodo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crawford manages to avoid it.
Sodo lands a two punch combo.
Sodo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Crawford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sodo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sodo slips under a jab from Crawford.
Sodo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sodo with a poor takedown
and Crawford counters with a left and a right that stings Sodo.
Sodo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Crawford is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Crawford connects with a single shot there.
Crawford wants to clinch

and Sodo counters with a single leg into guard. Crawford didn't expect that.
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!

Crawford has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sodo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Sodo circles away.
Sodo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Crawford lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sodo with a poor takedown
and Sodo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Crawford clobbers Sodo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Crawford is looking to slow Sodo down with leg kicks.
Sodo keeps the fight on the outside.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Sodo circles away.
Sodo misses with a takedown attempt
letting Crawford counter with a right hand.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sodo with a poor takedown
and Sodo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sodo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Crawford swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Crawford pushes Sodo up against the ropes in a clinch.
Sodo takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sodo avoids the elbow strike from Crawford, against the ropes.
Crawford looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Crawford wants to get back to striking at distance but Sodo won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Camron Crawford dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sodo avoids the head kick by Crawford.
Sodo fails with the takedown
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crawford connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sodo keeps the fight on the outside.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sodo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Crawford takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Some wild striking there from Crawford.
Crawford tries to clinch up but Sodo circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sodo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Crawford counters with a left and a right that stings Sodo.
Sodo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch but Sodo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sodo with a poor takedown
and Crawford counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Camron Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genki Sodo.
Crawford connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Sodo keeps it at a distance.
Crawford lands a lovely overhand right.
Crawford thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sodo tries a head kick but it misses.
Sodo staying out of range there.
Sodo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sodo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sodo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sodo with a poor takedown
and Crawford counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Crawford connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sodo. Sodo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Camron Crawford is winning the standup battle so far.
Crawford looks to land a left hand but Sodo moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford misses with a straight left.
Sodo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Crawford counters with a straight right hand.
Sodo blocks a head kick by Crawford.
Sodo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crawford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sodo keeps Crawford at a distance using the push kick.

Crawford gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Crawford lands a shot to the body.
Crawford throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sodos head.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sodo fails with the takedown
and Crawford counters with a leg kick.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Sodo in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Crawford just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sodo's brow.
Crawford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sodo letting Crawford take a breather here.
Sodo takes a knee right on the jaw!

Sodo gets control of Crawford's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sodo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sodo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sodo lands a heavy elbow.
Genki Sodo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sodo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sodo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sodo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sodo wants to take Crawford's back but he can't do it this time.

Sodo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Crawford is on top in guard.
Sodo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Crawford decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sodo, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
Camron Crawford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Crawford, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Camron Crawford!