PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Humberto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Charcoal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Deja Vu. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Charcoal

170 cm
31
165 lbs
19 - 9 - 2

182 cm
28
155 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Humberto Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Mr Charcoal!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a lazy body kick
and Charcoal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Humberto Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Charcoal misses with a looping right.
Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Charcoal lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Charcoal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz swings for the body but Charcoal moves out of range.
Charcoal checks the leg kick.
No joy there for Charcoal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sloppy strikes from Charcoal. Those never looked like landing.
Charcoal dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on Charcoal's head and hops out.
Cruz looks for the body kick but Charcoal saw that one coming.
A bone on bone clash there as Cruz blocks the leg kick.
Charcoal cracks Cruz with an open hand slap.
Charcoal misses with a wild body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cruz!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Charcoal.
Charcoal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
A clash of legs there as Cruz blocks the low kick.
Cruz looks to land a body kick but Charcoal moved away.
Cruz thuds his right hand into Charcoal's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Charcoal throws out the jab.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Charcoal is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Charcoal's guard.
Cruz trying to control but Charcoal is working from the bottom.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Charcoal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
Charcoal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
Cruz stands and throws Charcoal's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cruz's best efforts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz prevents Charcoal from improving his position.
Charcoal moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Charcoal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz won't allow Charcoal to sweep him here.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Charcoal keeps moving.

Charcoal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.

Charcoal 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.
Charcoal is pulling down on Cruz's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Charcoal is doing well to control the position and prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Charcoal is having none of it.
Charcoal is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz winds up and cracks Charcoal with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Charcoal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Charcoal is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mr Charcoal will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz throws a body kick that misses.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Charcoal manages to avoid it.
Charcoal throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Charcoal throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Charcoal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cruz throws a body kick that misses.
Charcoal checks a leg kick.
Cruz misses with the body kick
and Charcoal counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Charcoal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Charcoal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Charcoal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Charcoal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Charcoal misses with a double jab.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Charcoal misses with a looping left.
Humberto Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cruz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Charcoal.
Charcoal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Charcoal scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cruz in his tracks.
Cruz leaves Charcoal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Charcoal's front leg but catches the back leg as Charcoal tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cruz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz throws a push kick but Charcoal slaps the foot to one side.
Charcoal misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice leg kick.
Cruz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Charcoal is breathing heavily.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cruz.
Cruz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Charcoal.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Charcoal is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Cruz throws a low kick, looking for Charcoal's leg but Charcoal calmly moves out of range.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Charcoal.
Cruz cracks the inside of Charcoal's front leg.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
Charcoal is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal is looking to get back to full guard here but Cruz has managed to pass to side control instead.
Charcoal is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cruz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Charcoal is looking to improve his position.

Charcoal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Charcoal is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.

Charcoal actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Charcoal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Charcoal trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
Cruz pushing down on Charcoal's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Charcoal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Charcoal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Cruz dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Charcoal throws a leg kick but Cruz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Charcoal looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Cruz defending well as Charcoal loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Charcoal's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Charcoal fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cruz checks it well.
Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!
Charcoal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Charcoal clobbers Cruz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.
Cruz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Charcoals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cruz scores with a push kick.
Charcoal checks the leg kick.
Charcoal has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cruz.
Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Charcoal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charcoal throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.
Good leg kick by Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Cruz.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cruz.
Nice uppercut there from Cruz.
Cruz is looking to wear down Charcoal with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Charcoal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
Charcoal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charcoal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a kick to the body.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cruz feints and then cracks Charcoal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Charcoal down.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Charcoal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Charcoal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Charcoal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Charcoal on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Charcoal throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Cruz connects with a looping right hand.
Cruz is looking to chop away at Charcoal's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Charcoal's front leg but catches the back leg as Charcoal tries to avoid it.
Charcoal looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Charcoal throws a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz digs a good hook to Charcoal's body.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Charcoal moved out of range nicely.
Charcoal takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Charcoal with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cruz to score with a decent uppercut.
Cruz throws a head kick but Charcoal moves out of range.
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Charcoal darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Charcoal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Charcoal ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Charcoal moves out of range of the body kick from Cruz.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Cruz scores with a hook.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cruz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Charcoal has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Charcoal and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Charcoal misses with a looping right.
Charcoal lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Charcoal moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Charcoal takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Charcoal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cruz misses with a kick to the body.
Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Humberto Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Humberto Cruz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Humberto Cruz made sure he mentioned Conviction, along with how happy he was to win his fight.