PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Crazy Mike (ranked 2305 p4p, 1699 weight class) and Santa Cruz (ranked 272 p4p, 215 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.

Mike
vs
Cruz

190 cm
26
218
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
26
210
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Crazy Mike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mike waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Jab from Cruz.
Mike throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Mike pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike slips under a jab from Cruz.
Mike is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Mike moved out of range.
Mike throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mike displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Mike is looking to counter punch.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Mike counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mike moves out of range as Cruz strikes.
Cruz's coach down at Freaky Fight Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cruz's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A big left from Cruz misses.
Cruz works the jab nicely.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Mike's shoulder, as Mike tries to avoid the shot.
Mike throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Mike throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Mike counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Mike counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cruz misses the jab.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mike takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cruz thuds a left hand into Mike's body.
We've been told by Mike's head coaches at Freaky Fight Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mike doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mike uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Cruz throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Mike's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Cruz dives in looking to finish as Mike flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Cruz's strikes! Cruz is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Mike's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Mike was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Santa Cruz!
After winning the bout, Santa Cruz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.