PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Humberto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herzog comes to the cage accompanied by Takida - Curly Sue. Cruz has chosen Deja Vu as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Herzog
vs
Cruz

175 cm
36
166 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

170 cm
32
165 lbs
22 - 11 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Herzog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Humberto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a leg kick
and Herzog counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Herzog.
Herzog looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cruz.
Cruz takes a swing at Herzog's ribcage but misses.
Herzog takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herzog sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Herzog takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cruz's corner calls for a 1-2. Cruz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
An inside leg kick from Herzog misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Herzog.
Cruz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Herzog.
Herzog throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Herzog throws a low kick but Cruz moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz misses with a hook to the body

and Herzog counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cruz's guard now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herzog wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has his hands on Herzog's head, controlling the position.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Herzog is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herzog accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herzog is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cruz can't keep his opponent in guard - Herzog advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Herzog is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Herzog looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herzog with the ground and pound but Cruz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Herzog controlling him for the moment.
Herzog with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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!
Herzog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Herzog preventing the sweep.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Herzog from controlling successfully.
Herzog landing with the ground and pound.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Herzog gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Herzog wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Herzog 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.
Herzog keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Herzog throwing strikes but missing.
Herzog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Herzog trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Herzog is working hard here to advance position.
Herzog preventing the sweep.
Herzog trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is pulling down on Herzog's head. It's preventing any offense from Herzog, at least for the moment.
Herzog throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Herzog throwing strikes but missing.
Herzog connects with a couple of short punches.
Herzog is stalling in the full guard.
Herzog lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herzog postures up.
Herzog cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Herzog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Herzog dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Herzog gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Herzog lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cruz scores with a nice strike.
Herzog uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Herzog fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
A jab from Herzog misses.
Herzog is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cruz.
Herzog misses with a kick to the body.
Herzog jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Herzog.
Herzog just misses with a punch to the body.
Herzog avoids the body shot from Cruz.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cruz.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Herzog swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Herzog rather than just go for the knockout.
Herzog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Herzog.
Nice shot lands for Herzog.
Herzog fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cruz checks it well.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Herzog misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Herzog takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A slow jab from Herzog misses its intended target.
A clash of legs there as Herzog blocks the low kick.
An inside leg kick from Cruz misses.
Cruz blocks a low kick nicely.
Herzog changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Herzog manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Herzog connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Humberto Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Herzog.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Herzog, right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz thumps Herzog with a low kick.
Cruz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Herzog pinned against the cage. Herzog gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Herzog is avoiding it.
Herzog swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Herzog does a little dance to reset his feet.
Herzog takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cruz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Herzog is out of range.
Cruz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Chris Herzog is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Herzog moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herzog misses with a straight left.
Cruz slips under a jab from Herzog.
Herzog ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Herzog throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Herzog circles away.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Herzog throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Herzog misses with a wild combination.
Herzog misses with a two punch combination.
A left lands for Cruz.
Herzog chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cruz can pounce on him.
Herzog displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Chris Herzog has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Humberto Cruz.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog misses with a wild body shot.
Herzog dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on Herzog's head and hops out.
Herzog looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Herzog keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Herzog dives in and scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Herzog!
Humberto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz wants to control the pace but Herzog is squirming around nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herzog is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.

Cruz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Herzog turns into him and now he's in Cruz's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Humberto Cruz.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 19:19
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 19:19
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 19:19

The fight is ruled a draw!