PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Pacheco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Croft has chosen Living in the Sunlight as his entrance music. Mark Croft is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pacheco
vs
Croft

219 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomas Pacheco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Croft!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croft throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Croft has managed to clinch.

Croft breaks from the clinch.
Croft tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pacheco swivels and escapes.
Pacheco displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Croft.
Pacheco seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mark Croft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pacheco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Croft swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pacheco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pacheco shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Croft pinned against the cage. Croft gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pacheco crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Croft - the referee stops the clock and Pacheco gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Croft. Pacheco manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Tomas Pacheco has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Croft. Those never looked like landing.
Pacheco takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pacheco.
Pacheco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Croft manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pacheco shoots in looking for a takedown but Croft manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pacheco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Pacheco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croft swings for the body but Pacheco moves out of range.
Croft shoots in but Pacheco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pacheco throws a big counter combination but Croft scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Croft.

Pacheco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Croft to the mat! Croft manages to get full guard.

Pacheco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Pacheco swats away the attempt to clinch by Croft.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pacheco as he jumps to the side.
Croft wants to clinch.
Croft shoots in looking for a takedown. Pacheco tries to sprawl out of it but Croft keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pacheco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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.

Pacheco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've been informed that Croft has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Croft breaks the clinch.
Pacheco swats away the attempt to clinch by Croft.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Croft misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Croft lands with a kick to the temple. Pacheco shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Croft dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tomas Pacheco's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pacheco dives in and grabs Croft's left leg, looking for a takedown. Croft pushes down on Pacheco's head and hops out.
Croft swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pacheco shoots in but no luck this time.
Croft scores with a nice right hand.
Pacheco wants to clinch up but Croft keeps it at a distance.
Croft is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pacheco with a body shot.

Croft moves into the clinch.

Croft breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Croft dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pacheco. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croft throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Croft looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pacheco blocks the body kick.
The crowd cheers as Croft lands an impressive looking overhand right. Pacheco doesn't seem phased though.
Pacheco wants to clinch.
Mark Croft seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid leg kick lands there for Croft.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Pacheco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Croft tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pacheco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pacheco slaps away a takedown attempt from Croft, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pacheco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Croft.

Croft forces Pacheco back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft being controlled against the cage.
Pacheco wants to stall.
Pacheco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Croft is defending well for now.
Croft effectively controlling the action here.

Croft jumps guard.
Croft looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pacheco is one step ahead there.
Croft has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pacheco stands up from Croft's guard - Pacheco perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Croft.
Croft is breathing heavily.
Croft throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pacheco shoots in but no luck this time.
Croft lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Pacheco dives in and grabs Croft's left leg, looking for a takedown. Croft pushes down on Pacheco's head and hops out.
Croft misses with a straight left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Croft.
Croft throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pacheco counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Croft showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tomas Pacheco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pacheco forces Croft back against the cage and clinches.
Pacheco tries to circle away but Croft has him pinned against the cage.
Pacheco tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Croft avoids it.

Croft breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pacheco tries to clinch there but Croft circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Croft. Those never looked like landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Pacheco misses its target.
Pacheco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Croft.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Croft gets tackled into the cage by Pacheco. Pacheco maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacheco has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Croft avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Pacheco has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Croft uses from the top position.
Pacheco controlling the position.
Croft trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pacheco manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Pacheco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Croft has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pacheco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Croft takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Croft wants to stand up but Pacheco is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pacheco preventing the sweep.

Pacheco stands up and waves to Croft to follow him.
Croft tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Croft shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pacheco defends it nicely.
Mark Croft is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco tries for a takedown but Croft circles away easily
and Croft counters with a nice leg kick.
Croft wants to land a leg kick but Pacheco is out of range.
No luck for Pacheco with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Pacheco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacheco chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Croft can pounce on him.

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.
Croft tries for a takedown but Pacheco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pacheco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mark Croft is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Croft drives through and clinches with Pacheco against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pacheco takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tomas Pacheco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pacheco looking to throw knees to the head but Croft is blocking nicely.

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 Tomas Pacheco.
I think Croft 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Croft!
Mark Croft seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.