PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Red Machine (ranked 1304 p4p, 1284 weight class) and Santa Cruz (ranked 167 p4p, 165 weight class). Big Red Machine has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machine
vs
Cruz

195 cm
25
215
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
210
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Big Red Machine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.

It looks like Big Red Machine has been cut.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Machine moves out of range.
Big Red Machine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machine moves out of range as Cruz strikes.
It looked like Machine was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Cruz throws a jab when Machine was well out of range.
Machine avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machine throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Machine definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Machine throws a front kick aimed at Cruz's knee but Cruz avoids it well.
Jab from Cruz.
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.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Machine.
It seemed like Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machine connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Machine misses with a straight left.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Machine throws a jab when Cruz was well out of range.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Cruz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Machine slips a straight right by Cruz.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Machine tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cruz is able to avoid easily.
Machine throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Machine throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine cracks Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Machine avoids it well.
Machine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz throws a right hand that Machine ducks under and follows up with a left that Machine also avoids with ease.
Machine with a nice cross.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Machine.
Machine throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Cruz slips a jab from Machine.
Cruz throws a hook but Machine blocks it.
Cruz slips a straight right by Machine.
Machine misses with a leg kick.
Machine misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Machine.
Machine scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Machine saw that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Machine throws a body shot but no joy.
Machine scores with a jab. Cruz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Santa Cruz has been cut.
Machine misses with a left hand
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Cruz takes a swing at Machine's ribcage but misses.
Machine scores with the left hand. Cruz knows he should have avoided that one.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Machine is out of range.
Machine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Machine.
Machine fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cruz checks it well.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Machine.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Machine darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Machine lands a slapping body shot.
Machine slips a straight right by Cruz.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Machine lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cruz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cruz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Machine takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Machine lands a body shot.
Machine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Machine.
Cruz misses the jab.
Machine avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machine.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Machine misses with a wild combination.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Machine.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Machine misses with an uppercut.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Machine.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Machine misses with a low kick.
Machine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice jab there from Machine.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Machine throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A jab lands there for Machine.

Cruz is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Machine finish him?
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Machine throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Machine drops Cruz with a big left hand! Cruz is injured, injured bad! Machine jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Big Red Machine!