PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabrial Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack McLumberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cruz
vs
McLumberg

189 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabrial Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack McLumberg!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLumberg throws a head kick that misses.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz trying to control but McLumberg is working from the bottom.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
McLumberg trying to control the position.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.

McLumberg wriggles free and stands up.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McLumberg lands with a kick to the temple. Cruz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McLumberg bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
McLumberg scores with a one two! Cruz had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
McLumberg lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McLumberg moves into the clinch.

McLumberg breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLumberg works Cruz's body with a nice hook.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McLumberg leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabrial Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for McLumberg.

McLumberg instigates a clinch.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but McLumberg pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McLumberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McLumberg. Cruz shrugs it off though.
Jack McLumberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLumberg jabs at Cruz's body.
McLumberg smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cruz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but McLumberg has taken the fight into the clinch.

McLumberg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McLumberg jabs at Cruz's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jack McLumberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McLumberg moves into the clinch.

McLumberg has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cruz regains guard immediately.
McLumberg wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.
McLumberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McLumberg has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLumberg gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cruz tries for a takedown but McLumberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McLumberg goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McLumberg connects with a crisp jab.
McLumberg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLumberg cracks Cruz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McLumberg throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.
Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice body kick there by McLumberg.
Danga de danga de dang - McLumberg scores with a four punch combination!
McLumberg connects with a high kick.
McLumberg lands a body shot.
McLumberg looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McLumberg moves into the clinch successfully.

McLumberg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McLumberg plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack McLumberg dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McLumberg swivels and escapes.

McLumberg takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McLumberg walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McLumberg's corner calls for a 1-2. McLumberg obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

McLumberg has taken the fight to the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McLumberg prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabrial Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McLumberg gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

McLumberg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A thudding body kick lands there by McLumberg!

McLumberg clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McLumberg breaks from the clinch.

McLumberg rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on McLumberg - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

McLumberg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McLumberg throws a nice inside leg kick.
McLumberg lands a head kick. Cruz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A kick lands to the mid section there for McLumberg.
McLumberg bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
McLumberg throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.

McLumberg rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Come on McLumberg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McLumberg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McLumberg closes the distance and clinches.
McLumberg controlling the action here for a moment.
McLumberg is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
McLumberg content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLumberg breaks the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for McLumberg.
McLumberg tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
McLumberg lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McLumberg is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cruz rather than just go for the knockout.
McLumberg fails with an attempt to clinch.
McLumberg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McLumberg.
McLumberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McLumberg pinned against the cage. McLumberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McLumberg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McLumberg goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McLumberg throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McLumberg scores with a head kick.
McLumberg lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McLumberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McLumberg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jack McLumberg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McLumberg misses with the combination.
McLumberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack McLumberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McLumberg moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

McLumberg clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from McLumberg.

McLumberg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McLumberg lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McLumberg scoring well with a low kick there.
McLumberg throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz avoids the head kick by McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a head kick that half lands.
McLumberg lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from McLumberg misses.
Cruz will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McLumberg throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McLumberg lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

McLumberg closes the distance and clinches.
McLumberg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLumberg changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cruz tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McLumberg.
McLumberg buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McLumberg slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabrial Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but McLumberg has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McLumberg holding his opponent close, against the cage.

McLumberg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz looks for a takedown but McLumberg sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McLumberg!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McLumberg!
A nice inside leg kick there by McLumberg. That's going to slow Cruz down.
McLumberg looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McLumberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McLumberg lands with a slapping head kick.

McLumberg rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McLumberg has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
McLumberg will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cruz up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
McLumberg looking to stall.
McLumberg is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McLumberg down to the mat. McLumberg avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McLumberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
A slapping body kick lands there for McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
McLumberg pushes Cruz away with a front kick.
Jack McLumberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
No joy there for McLumberg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McLumberg feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

McLumberg clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cruz is trying to drag McLumberg to the mat but McLumberg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack McLumberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McLumberg has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack McLumberg!