PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between King Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dela Cruz
vs
Zala

194 cm
24
215 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

185 cm
23
220 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

[CBK] Smashwear Clothing

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, King Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Athrun Zala!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zala throws a big shot that misses.
Zala rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dela Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zala tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
Athrun Zala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zala closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dela Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zala's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dela Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zala has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dela Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Zala's legs - danger averted.
Zala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zala is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dela Cruz is controlling him.
Zala keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zala controlling the position.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Zala keeps moving.
Dela Cruz pushes down on Zala's leg and manages to get into half guard.

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.
Zala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dela Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Zala is trying to stand.
Zala pushes Dela Cruz off but Dela Cruz dives into side control.
Zala is not content to let Dela Cruz control the position.
Zala managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dela Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala is being controlled here.
Dela Cruz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zala is being controlled here.
Zala is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dela Cruz is controlling him well.
Dela Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Zala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dela Cruz swings around for an armbar but Zala sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Dela Cruz's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dela Cruz controls Zala momentarily but Zala frees himself.
Dela Cruz has his hands on Zala's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

We're going to have a standup here because King Dela Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dela Cruz is defended easily by Zala.
Zala tries to clinch up

and Dela Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz stays in close to Zala's body and controls the position.
Dela Cruz wants to pass the guard but Zala is keeping the position.
Dela Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dela Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dela Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dela Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's six 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.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Zala keeps moving.

Dela Cruz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zala is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dela Cruz, into his guard.
Zala looking to pass the guard.
Zala thows a big elbow that misses.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zala working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dela Cruz pulls Zala in close to prevent any damage.
Zala wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.
Zala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zala controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zala throws and elbow that misses. Dela Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zala's guard. Nice move by Dela Cruz!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dela Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Zala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dela Cruz pulls Zala in to control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dela Cruz is pulling down on Zala's head. It's preventing any offense from Zala, at least for the moment.
Zala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dela Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zala throws and elbow that misses. Dela Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zala's guard. Nice move by Dela Cruz!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zala keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Dela Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zala throws out a leg kick but Dela Cruz moves out of range and Zala only half commits.
Zala looks to clinch

and Dela Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
Dela Cruz working away.
Dela Cruz scores with punches from side control.
Dela Cruz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dela Cruz working the strikes but Zala uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zala regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dela Cruz.
King Dela Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zala working a defensive guard here.
Dela Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dela Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Zala is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Dela Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The ref stands the fighters back up. King Dela Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zala swinging wildly here.
Zala misses with a combination

and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dela Cruz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Zala is keeping him busy.
Zala wants to control but Dela Cruz postures up.
Zala taking a bit of punishment here - Dela Cruz scoring with strikes.

Dela Cruz tries for a kimura but Zala is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zala is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dela Cruz is controlling him well.
Dela Cruz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Dela Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Zala is defending well.
Zala dodges the ground and pound from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz advances nicely into full mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz tries to control but Zala wriggling away.
Dela Cruz working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zala takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Dela Cruz lands a big elbow.
Dela Cruz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dela Cruz with a couple of short strikes.
Zala tries to reverse the position but Dela Cruz maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Dela Cruz.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz controlling his opponent.
The referee warns Zala that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dela Cruz dominating with strikes here.
Zala blocking the ground and pound.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zala wants to control but Dela Cruz is having none of it.
Dela Cruz lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dela Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Zala tries to hold on but Dela Cruz pushes him away.
Dela Cruz with good strikes from the mount here!
Dela Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zala looks a forlorn figure.
Zala is breathing heavily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zala holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dela Cruz tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dela Cruz landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zala sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dela Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zala knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dela Cruz trying to control from half guard but Zala is working away.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dela Cruz.
Zala wants to get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zala does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Dela Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dela Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zala tries to clinch

and Dela Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dela Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zala can do to turn this around?
Dela Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zala is on top in guard.
Zala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dela Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Dela Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dela Cruz lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz controlling his opponent.

That's two 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.
Zala is squirming around, avoiding Dela Cruz's attempts to control the action.
BOOM! Dela Cruz connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Dela Cruz looking to ground and pound but Zala is blocking nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Dela Cruz there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zala taking shots to the head.
Zala is squirming around, avoiding Dela Cruz's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz looking to secure an arm triangle but Zala defends it well.
Dela Cruz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zala?
Zala is desperately trying to improve his position but Dela Cruz has a good base and remains in mount.
Dela Cruz looking to finish Zala with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zala!
Dela Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Zala working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz raining down hammerfists from mount.
Dela Cruz raining down hammerfists from mount.
Dela Cruz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dela Cruz misses with a head shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Zala in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
You get the feeling that Zala really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Dela Cruz goes for an armbar but Zala turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Zala.
Zala stands and throws Dela Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Dela Cruz is right now.
Dela Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Zala postures up.
King Dela Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zala sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dela Cruz is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Zala is trying to ground and pound but Dela Cruz uses the momentary lack of control by Zala to regain half guard.
Zala throws a strike but Dela Cruz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zala tries to free his leg and advance position but Dela Cruz is retaining full guard.
Zala throws a strike but Dela Cruz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dela Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zala keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
Dela Cruz stays in close to Zala's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. King Dela Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zala moves to clinch but Dela Cruz breaks away

and Dela Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Zala fights it but they end up in guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Zala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
King Dela Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dela Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for King Dela Cruz!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for King Dela Cruz!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for King Dela Cruz!

King Dela Cruz wins by unanimous decision!