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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roger Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Xu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - Creeping Death. Santa Cruz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 50 cent P.I.M.P. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
24
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0 |
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180 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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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
12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roger Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xu tries to sprawl but Santa Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Santa Cruz is keen to just control but Xu is a slippery customer.
Santa Cruz throwing shots but Xu is blocking nicely.
Xu wants to improve his position but Santa Cruz is controlling well.
Xu is trying to maintain the position but Santa Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Xu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santa Cruz on the ground.
Santa Cruz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Xu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Xu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santa Cruz.
Xu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santa Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Santa Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xu is just riding it out for now. Santa Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santa Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Xu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is keen to just control but Xu is a slippery customer.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu wants to get back to full guard.
Xu keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santa Cruz wants to control but Xu is keeping him busy.
Xu is trying to control but can't.
Santa Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Xu is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Santa Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Santa Cruz thows a huge punch but Xu dodges it nicely.
Santa Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Xu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is looking for a kimura here.
Santa Cruz is nestled in close to Xu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu wants to improve his position but Santa Cruz is controlling well.
Santa Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santa Cruz trying to advance position but Xu counters by regaining guard.
Xu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santa Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xu's guard.
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!
Xu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Xu controls Santa Cruz momentarily but Santa Cruz frees himself.
Santa Cruz distracts Xu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Xu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Santa Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Xu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Xu's back!
Santa Cruz trying to control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz tightening his grip on Xu, looking for the choke.
Santa Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Xu breaks Santa Cruz's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Santa Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Xu working to try and regain half guard.
Santa Cruz looking to ground and pound but Xu is blocking nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Xu is working to get back to half guard.
Santa Cruz connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Cruz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Xu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Santa Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Santa Cruz cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Xu bucks Santa Cruz off and manages to get back to his feet!
Xu moves out of range of the leg kick from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz scores with a nice head shot.
Santa Cruz blocks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xu tries to avoid it but Santa Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xu to the ground. Xu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santa Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Xu.
Santa Cruz avoids the head kick by Xu.
Xu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Xu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santa Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Santa Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Xu throws out a leg kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range and Xu only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Xu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xu scores with a spinning back kick!
Santa Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Santa Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Xu wants to get back to his feet.
Santa Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Xu defending well though.
Xu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Santa Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Xu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santa Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santa Cruz prevents Xu from getting back to his feet.
Xu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santa Cruz is one step ahead there.
Xu is working hard here to advance position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Xu keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santa Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santa Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Xu keeps moving.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santa Cruz misses with a body shot.
Xu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santa Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Xu. No joy for Santa Cruz on that attempt.
Santa Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santa Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Santa Cruz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Santa Cruz lands a nice hook to Xu's body. Xu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Xu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Xu stuffs the takedown attempt from Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Roger Xu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Santa Cruz.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz punishes Xu's body with a nice straight punch.
Xu tries to land a leg kick but Santa Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Xu throws a leg kick that misses.
Xu walks into a straight right hand from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Santa Cruz lands with a right hand.
Santa Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Xu's guard.
Xu keeping moving, preventing Santa Cruz from controlling successfully.
Xu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santa Cruz is one step ahead there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Xu is working from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Roger Xu just wasn't active enough.
Santa Cruz throws a right and a left that Xu avoids nicely.
Santa Cruz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Xu throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz moved away.
Xu connects with an inside leg kick.
Xu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santa Cruz drives through and clinches with Xu against the cage.
Santa Cruz tries a body shot but Xu blocks it.
Santa Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Xu unloads a knee to the mid-section. Santa Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz tries a body shot but Xu blocks it.
Santa Cruz tries to stall but Xu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A shot in the inside from Xu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Xu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Santa Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Xu has the dominant position.
Santa Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Xu scores a nice knee to the body.
Xu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Santa Cruz tries to pull guard but Xu holds him up against the cage and eventually Santa Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Xu pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Good standup being displayed there by Santa Cruz as he connects with a hook.
Xu checks a leg kick nicely.
Xu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santa Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santa Cruz moves out of range of the body kick.
Xu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Santa Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Xu tries to work over Santa Cruz's front leg with a kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
Xu misses with a few strikes there.
Santa Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Xu thows a body shot but no joy.
A leg kick checked by Santa Cruz.
Xu takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santa Cruz.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Santa Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Santa Cruz checks it well.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Santa Cruz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Xu's front leg with a kick but Xu checks it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Xu. That's going to slow Santa Cruz down.
Santa Cruz scores with a nice strike.
Santa Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Santa Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Xu counters with a slapping leg kick.
Xu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xu fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Santa Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santa Cruz lands a high kick!
Roger Xu is winning the standup battle so far.
Xu is looking to score with low kicks.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook to the body
and Xu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Xu.
Xu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santa Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Xu controls the action.
Santa Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xu's elbow.
Xu tries to land knees in the clinch but Santa Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Santa Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
It looks like Rafael Santa Cruz has been cut.
Xu throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Santa Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz takes a swing at Xu's ribcage but misses.
Xu lands a really nice looking cross but Santa Cruz seems unphased.
Santa Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Xu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santa Cruz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Xu is able to avoid easily.
Xu throws a front kick aimed at Santa Cruz's knee but Santa Cruz avoids it well.
Xu tries to clinch up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Xu, pushing him back against the cage.
Xu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santa Cruz is defending well for now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Roger Xu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice body punch from Santa Cruz - that landed with a thud.
Xu has Santa Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Santa Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rafael Santa Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A shot in the inside from Santa Cruz.
Xu tries to land a knee to the head but Santa Cruz blocks with his arms.
Santa Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Xu controls his hands.
Xu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Xu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xu lands an elbow inside.
Xu scores with a knee to the head.
Santa Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xu missing with knees to the body.
Xu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Xu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Santa Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xu gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Roger Xu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Santa Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Xu.
Xu tries to land knees in the clinch but Santa Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Santa Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santa Cruz misses with some punches.
Santa Cruz is trying to break free.
Santa Cruz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Xu backwards.
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 Roger Xu.
I think Santa Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz made sure to mention his sponsor, DTK Designs (Laundry) in his post fight interview.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
99% |
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