PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albricias Fanhez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Walk. Fanhez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Fanhez

185 cm
26
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manel Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albricias Fanhez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fanhez scores with a nice head shot.
Fanhez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fanhez throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Fanhez is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Fanhez shoots and misses
and Cruz counters with a head kick. That will keep Fanhez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Fanhez throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a head kick.
Fanhez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cruz counters with a big head kick but Fanhez shrugs it off.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Cruz rushes Fanhez and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fanhez misses with a body punch
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Fanhez.
Fanhez throws a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Fanhez moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanhez fails with the takedown.
Manel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albricias Fanhez.

Fanhez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Fanhez wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fanhez wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz is trying to stand.
Cruz wants to control but Fanhez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Fanhez has control of the leg.
Fanhez is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fanhez pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to stand back up but Fanhez manages to pass into side control.
Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Fanhez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Fanhez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fanhez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cruz tries to bench press Fanhez off him but Fanhez keeps the position.
Cruz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Fanhez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.

Fanhez wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to roll over but Fanhez keeps him under control.
Fanhez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fanhez is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fanhez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz trying to control but Fanhez postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fanhez wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Fanhez throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fanhez throwing strikes but missing.
Fanhez scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fanhez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fanhez manages to get himself to full guard.

Fanhez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A right-left combo lands from Fanhez.
Fanhez connects with a right hand. Cruz shakes it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid body kick from Fanhez.
Fanhez throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fanhez throws a lazy head kick
and Cruz counters with a head kick. That will keep Fanhez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fanhez.
Fanhez shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Fanhez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fanhez connects with a body shot that sends Cruz's belly button to the back.
Fanhez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Fanhez scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanhez throws a right hand that misses
and Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
Fanhez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz counters with a big head kick but Fanhez shrugs it off.
Fanhez connects with a body shot.
Cruz throws a head kick but Fanhez moves out of range.
Fanhez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Albricias Fanhez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fanhez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cruz at a distance.
Fanhez cracks Cruz with a good jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Fanhez. That snapped Cruz's head back.
Manel Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Fanhez throws a lazy head kick

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanhez wants to stall.
Fanhez tries to break free but Cruz pushes him back against the ropes.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
letting Fanhez counter with a right hand.
Manel Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fanhez misses with a shot to the body
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fanhez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fanhez swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a head kick. That will keep Fanhez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fanhez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fanhez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fanhez shoots in but no luck this time.
Manel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albricias Fanhez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Fanhez.
Fanhez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz tries to move into range but Fanhez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fanhez shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fanhez thows a body shot but no joy.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fanhez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fanhez misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a big head kick but Fanhez shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanhez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Fanhez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fanhez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Fanhez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fanhez misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Fanhez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manel Cruz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz throws a head kick but Fanhez moves out of range.
Fanhez lunges at Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cruz's hand.
Fanhez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice uppercut there from Fanhez.
Fanhez misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Fanhez is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Fanhez shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Fanhez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fanhez misses with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Fanhez misses with a two punch combination.
Fanhez scores with a decent looking hook.
Fanhez shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Fanhez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanhez takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Manel Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fanhez dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on Fanhez's head and hops out.
Manel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albricias Fanhez.
Fanhez looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Fanhez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.

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

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Fanhez lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fanhez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fanhez cracks Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Fanhez.
Fanhez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A head kick by Fanhez misses
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Fanhez.
Fanhez misses with a hook to the body
and Cruz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fanhez thinking.
Fanhez throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanhez throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Fanhez misses with a kick to the body

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch.
Fanhez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fanhez tries to land a body kick
and Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fanhez throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Fanhez is lucky that one didn't land flush.

It looks like Albricias Fanhez has been cut.

Cruz darts in and clinches Fanhez up against the ropes.
Fanhez tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Fanhez back against the ropes.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fanhez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fanhez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanhez with a hook.
Fanhez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Fanhez misses with a body punch
and Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.
Fanhez throws a head kick that misses
and Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fanhez throws a lazy uppercut
and Fanhez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fanhez with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manel Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Manel Cruz!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Manel Cruz!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Manel Cruz!

Manel Cruz wins by unanimous decision!