PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Askew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askew has chosen Glamour of the Kill-Feeling Alive as his entrance music. Ian Askew is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cruz
vs
Askew

175 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chris Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ian Askew!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Askew tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Askew's guard.
Cruz tries to stand but Askew is controlling from the bottom.
Askew is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Askew bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askew controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ian Askew.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Askew takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
That kick from Askew tenderised Cruz's leg. Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz wants to clinch but Askew slips to the side
and Askew connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Askew throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Askew misses with a wild body shot.
Chris Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Askew misses the jab.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Askew counters with a straight right hand.
Ian Askew is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Askew counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cruz thinking.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Askew throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Askew throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Askew misses with a body kick.
Askew throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askew throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Askew backing up. Askew nods at Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Askew counters with a right hand to the body.
Askew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Askew.
Askew scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Chris Cruz has been cut.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Askew connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruz slips under a jab from Askew.
Askew scores with a leg kick.
Askew listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cruz checks a low kick from Askew.
Askew thuds a left hand into Cruz's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askew comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Askew lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askew fails to land with a series of punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Askew.
Askew scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Askew scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Askew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Askew fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cruz on the side of the head.
Cruz fails with the takedown
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Askew rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Askew dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Cruz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Askew. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Askew thows a leg kick but Cruz checks it

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Askew is keeping him busy.
Askew controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askew is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Cruz prevents Askew from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askew gets back to full guard.
Askew pulls Cruz in to control the position.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Askew throws a body kick that misses.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Askew sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Askew is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cruz rather than just go for the knockout.
Askew thows a body shot but no joy.
Askew walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cruz moves out of range of the leg kick from Askew.
Askew throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Askew lands a jab-cross combination.
A cross from Askew lands.
Askew tries to work over Cruz's front leg with a kick but Cruz checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but Askew moves out of range.
Askew fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Chris Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Askew falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Askew really felt that one!
Askew lands a jab-cross combination.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Askew circles away.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Askew counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Askew!
Cruz wants to clinch but Askew slips to the side
and Askew counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A head kick by Cruz misses
and Askew counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz looks to clinch
and Askew counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Askew avoids it really well and circles away.
Askew scores with a three punch combo!
Cruz tries for a takedown but Askew circles away easily
and Askew counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Askew throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
Askew throws a jab when Cruz was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ian Askew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Chris Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Askew throws a body kick that misses.
Askew misses with a lunging right hand

so Cruz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cruz throws and elbow that misses. Askew uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by Askew!
Askew is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Askew has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Cruz has his foot on Askew's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askew works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Askew decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cruz, up you get!
A combination from Askew does no damage.
A nice combination there by Askew.
Askew throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Askew swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Askew counters with a straight right hand.
Askew fails to land with a series of punches.
Askew shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cruz eats them both and turns towards Askew to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Askew throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Askew throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ian Askew seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Askew counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Askew but Askew pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Askew counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Askew to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Askew shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Askew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Askew swinging wildly here.
Askew stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Askew.
Askew throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Askew swivels and escapes.
Askew displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cruz dives in and grabs Askew's left leg, looking for a takedown. Askew pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
A big right from Askew misses.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Askew.
Ian Askew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Askew sprawls well. Askew wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz checks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian Askew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Askew winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Askew!