PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ong Bak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bak has chosen One Night In Bangkok as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dela Cruz
vs
Bak

190 cm
35
217 lbs
28 - 13 - 0

192 cm
31
222 lbs
8 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ong Bak!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bak rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bak is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cruz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bak up against the cage.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Cruz misses.
Bak is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz throws a sloppy body shot
and Bak counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bak drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bak misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bak misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Bak seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Bak swings around for an armbar but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bak's guard.
Bak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Bak is retaining full guard.
Bak can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.

Bak looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cruz passes into half guard.
Bak moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Bak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bak being controlled here, momentarily.
Bak controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Bak is keeping the position.
Bak wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.

Bak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cruz won't allow Bak to sweep him here.

Bak has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cruz is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bak.

Cruz decides to stand back up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bak throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Bak rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz misses the jab.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Bak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cruz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Steve Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ong Bak.
Bak throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Ong Bak has been cut.
Bak fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Bak looks winded!
Bak looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Bak persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Bak fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz swings for the body but Bak moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bak rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bak has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bak misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Bak has him pressed against the cage.
Bak wants a takedown but no success here.
Bak is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bak working aggressively here.
Bak is trying to pull guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cruz looking to stall.
A bit of stalling here from Cruz.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Steve Dela Cruz.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Bak misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Bak uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Bak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ong Bak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ong Bak's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bak tries to clinch up.
Ong Bak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bak misses with a looping right.
Bak takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bak blocks a jab.
Bak checks a leg kick.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Bak misses with a few strikes there.
Bak looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Bak tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bak tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz takes a swing at Bak's ribcage but misses.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Bak is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bak moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz swings for the body but Bak moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bak moves away.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bak moves away.
Bak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
A shot to the body from Cruz misses
and Bak counters with a thumping low kick.
Bak on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cruz cracks a nice hook into Bak's ribs.
Bak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bak misses with a head kick.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bak.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Bak.
Bak misses with a head kick.
Cruz lands with a straight right. Bak didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Cruz does it's job there.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bak is breathing heavily.
Cruz misses with a leg kick.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Bak has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Bak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz stalling in the clinch but Bak improves position.
Bak fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bak up against the cage.
Bak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Bak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bak is looking to clinch.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bak moves out of range.
Steve Dela Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bak tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Cruz is looking to wear down Bak with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cruz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz connects with a looping right hand.
Cruz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Bak.

Bak closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Cruz stalling in the clinch but Bak improves position.
Bak is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steve Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ong Bak.
Bak looking for a takedown.
Bak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bak tries to score a body lock takedown but Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz is trying to maintain a safe position but Bak gets an underhook and turns Cruz into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bak can't get the takedown.

Bak jumps guard and drags Cruz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands and steps away. Bak gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bak walks into a straight right hand from Cruz.

That has opened up Ong Bak's cut even more.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bak is looking to clinch.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bak is just out of range.
Bak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cruz finds it's way round the side to connect with Bak's head.
Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Cruz jabs at Bak's body.
Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bak.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz takes a swing at Bak's ribcage but misses.
Cruz lands a jab to Bak's midsection.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bak moves out of range.
Bak throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Dela Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ong Bak's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Bak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Bak tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Bak misses with a two punch combination.
Bak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bak wants to clinch.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Bak's shoulder, as Bak tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Steve Dela Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Bak throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bak wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bak counters with a one-two to the body.
Bak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A leg kick checked by Bak.
Bak throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
No joy there for Bak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz tests Bak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bak fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cruz. That's going to slow Bak down.
Cruz scores with a jab to the head.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bak.
Cruz cracks Bak with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Bak.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bak fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bak wants to clinch.
Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Bak closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz is looking to control Bak's arms but Bak gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cruz has his back to the cage.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bak misses with a double jab.
Bak throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bak tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Bak's body. Bak takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bak misses with a few strikes there.
Bak drops his hands momentarily and Cruz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Bak uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Bak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A lazy left from Cruz finds it's target.

Bak is rocked!

The cut above Ong Bak's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Bak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bak is still on wobbly legs! Can Cruz finish him?
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Bak seems to have recovered his senses.
Bak fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Bak's body. Bak takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
No joy there for Bak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz misses with a hook
and Bak counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bak doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Bak shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bak's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bak throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bak moves out of range.
Bak doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bak at a distance.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bak.
Bak shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bak gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ong Bak.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bak moves out of range.
Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cruz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Bak tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Cruz dips to his left and cracks Bak with an uppercut!

Ong Bak's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Cruz swings for the body but Bak moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Bak.
Bak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bak manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Dela 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Dela Cruz!
Steve Dela Cruz very nearly forgot to thank CEC Nutrition Q160 amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.