PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Georg Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mother Earth Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georg Cruz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cruz
vs
Earth Jr

176 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
20
143 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Georg Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mother Earth Jr!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Earth Jr shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Earth Jr takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Earth Jr circles away easily

and Earth Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Earth Jr looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cruz is avoiding damage well.
Earth Jr working the ground and pound.
Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Earth Jr has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Earth Jr is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Earth Jr controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Earth Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz tries to buck Earth Jr off but Earth Jr is having none of it.

Earth Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.

Earth Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cruz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Earth Jr trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Earth Jr goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cruz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Earth Jr's guard! Nice work there by Cruz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz distracts Earth Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Earth Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Earth Jr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Earth Jr.
Georg Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mother Earth Jr.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Earth Jr as he jumps to the side.

Earth Jr manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earth Jr wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Earth Jr defends easily.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Earth Jr from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mother Earth Jr dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Earth Jr gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Earth Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Earth Jr has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.

Earth Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Earth Jr is retaining full guard.
Mother Earth Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to stand but Earth Jr is controlling from the bottom.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Earth Jr has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Earth Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Earth Jr is breathing heavily.
Earth Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Georg Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Earth Jr trying to stall but Cruz improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Earth Jr is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Earth Jr 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.
Earth Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Earth Jr working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz is pushing down on Earth Jr's leg trying to pass to half guard. Earth Jr is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Earth Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Earth Jr is defending the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is trying to work for a kimura but Earth Jr is defending well.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Cruz wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Earth Jr uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Earth Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earth Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Earth Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Earth Jr is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Earth Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georg Cruz dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Good shot there by Cruz.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Earth Jr circles away.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt

and Earth Jr counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Earth Jr is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz wants to control but Earth Jr is keeping busy.

Earth Jr wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Earth Jr control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Earth Jr from controlling successfully.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Earth Jr throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Earth Jr defends well.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Earth Jr from controlling successfully.
Earth Jr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Earth Jr controls the pace.
Earth Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Earth Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Earth Jr postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cruz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Earth Jr, into his guard.
Earth Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Earth Jr keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Earth Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz trying to move into half guard but instead Earth Jr has managed to sweep!
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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 Georg 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!