PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Henry Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroyuki Matsuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Henry Cruz has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cruz
vs
Matsuda

176 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Henry Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroyuki Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matsuda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.

Matsuda closes the distance and clinches.
Matsuda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cruz after a bit of a struggle.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Henry Cruz has been cut.

Matsuda pulls Cruz into guard.
Matsuda punching to the body, from the bottom.

Matsuda manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Matsuda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuda misses with a few strikes there.
Henry Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Matsuda moved out of range.
Nice defenses there by Matsuda.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Matsuda counters by clinching up.
Matsuda goes for a takedown attempt but Cruz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Henry Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiroyuki Matsuda.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuda with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cruz to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Hiroyuki Matsuda has been cut.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Matsuda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Matsuda blocks a jab.
Matsuda tries to move into range but Cruz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matsuda somewhat.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Matsuda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz leaves Matsuda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Cruz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Matsuda is rocked!
Matsuda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Matsuda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Matsuda looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Matsuda to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Matsuda looks to clinch but Cruz throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Matsuda taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:07 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Henry Cruz!