PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlo Rafael Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Michihiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rafael Cruz
vs
Michihiro

188 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlo Rafael Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, DJ Michihiro!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michihiro doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Michihiro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Michihiro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Michihiro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Michihiro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
DJ Michihiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Michihiro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlo Rafael Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Michihiro counters by moving into the clinch.

Cruz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Michihiro would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Michihiro from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has his hands on Michihiro's head, controlling the position.
Michihiro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz trying to control the position.

Carlo Rafael Cruz has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Michihiro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michihiro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Michihiro as he jumps to the side.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Michihiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michihiro looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Michihiro, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Michihiro against the cage but Michihiro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a combination. Michihiro tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like DJ Michihiro has been cut.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Michihiro sprawls well.
Cruz shoots in but Michihiro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Michihiro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Michihiro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cruz pinned against the cage. Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michihiro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Michihiro looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Michihiro but Michihiro pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Michihiro tries a low kick but Cruz avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Michihiro. Michihiro gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Michihiro won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Michihiro won't allow it.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Michihiro won't allow it.
Michihiro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlo Rafael Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DJ Michihiro's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Michihiro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michihiro somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Michihiro.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlo Rafael Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Michihiro. Michihiro gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Michihiro sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michihiro fails with the takedown.
Carlo Rafael Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Michihiro is trying desperately to land a takedown but Cruz is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Michihiro.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Michihiro manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Cruz trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cruz controls Michihiro momentarily but Michihiro frees himself.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Michihiro from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michihiro postures up.
Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michihiro stands up and waves to Cruz to follow him.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown by Michihiro or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz which made him look bad.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michihiro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Michihiro. Michihiro gets slowly back to his feet.
Michihiro is breathing heavily.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michihiro clinches with his opponent.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Michihiro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Michihiro should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Michihiro stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Michihiro is controlling him.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Michihiro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Michihiro smiles and moves away.
Cruz misses with a kick 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 Carlo Rafael Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on DJ Michihiro's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Michihiro tries to clinch up.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Michihiro sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Cruz motions for Michihiro to come forward. Cruz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a body kick that misses.
Michihiro on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michihiro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Michihiro defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlo Rafael Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Michihiro. Michihiro gets slowly back to his feet.
Michihiro slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Michihiro fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Michihiro shoots in.
Michihiro fails to land the takedown.
Michihiro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michihiro fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michihiro moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Michihiro but Michihiro pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Michihiro pinned against the cage. Michihiro gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michihiro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Michihiro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michihiro tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michihiro closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Michihiro pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Michihiro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz dives in and grabs Michihiro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Michihiro pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Michihiro swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Cruz scores with a jab. Michihiro acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Michihiro sprawls well.
Michihiro shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Michihiro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Michihiro wants to clinch.
Cruz shoots in but Michihiro avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michihiro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
Michihiro misses with a head kick.
DJ Michihiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Michihiro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz leaves Michihiro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carlo Rafael Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Michihiro defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Carlo Rafael Cruz.
Well 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlo Rafael Cruz!