PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Humberto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre comes to the cage accompanied by Memories- Guetta. Cruz has chosen Deja Vu as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Humberto Cruz enters the cage!

Andre
vs
Cruz

179 cm
32
174 lbs
37 - 16 - 2

170 cm
34
165 lbs
29 - 13 - 5

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158
Conviction

Dragon
GREEN!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Andre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 5, fighting out of London, Humberto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andre thumps Cruz with a low kick.
Cruz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Andre closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Andre turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Andre misses with a body punch.
Cruz lands a nice uppercut.
Andre is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Andre tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Andre tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Andre struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Andre.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Andre to keep the fight standing.
Andre stalling in the clinch but Cruz improves position.
A hook to the body from Andre.
Cruz takes a shot to the head.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Andre scores with a shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Andre misses with the head strike.
Andre misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking for a takedown.
Alex Andre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Humberto Cruz.
A right handed body shot lands from Andre.
Andre misses with a punch to the body.

Andre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andre throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Andre.
Humberto Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Andre. Beautiful body shot.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Andre is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Andre manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Andre is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trapped and Andre is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Andre thows a strike but Cruz uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Cruz as he ends up in Andre 's guard!
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz preventing the sweep.

Andre throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Andre keeps moving.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Andre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Andre looking to control.
Andre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Humberto Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cruz lands a jab to the nose.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Andre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Andres jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Andre misses with a low kick as Cruz jumps back.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Andre sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre tries to land a leg kick but Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Andre jabs Cruz right on the nose. Cruz blinks but takes it well.
Andre throws a chopping leg kick but Cruz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jab from Andre.
Andre scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Andre blocks a jab.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Andre swinging wildly here.
Andre throws out a powerful jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Andre. Cruz shrugs it off though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Andre is just out of range.
Andre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Andre takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Andre 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.

Andre lands a nice shot to the body.
Cruz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Andre's guard.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Andre keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Andre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Andre 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 Andre.
Cruz takes a little break here. Andre wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Andre down.
Andre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Andre sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Andre is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Andre is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is staying tight to Andre's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Humberto Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz laying and praying for a moment but Andre takes advantage and regains half guard.

Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Andre sees it coming and defends easily.
Andre manages to get to full guard.
Andre keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Andre.
Andre working a defensive guard here.
Andre keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Andre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Andre being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre is trying to hold Cruz in close to prevent damage but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Andre defends it well.
Andre trying to control but Cruz postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andre gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz feints and then cracks Andre's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Andre down.
Andre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Andre throws a half hearted mid kick.
Andre throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Donk. Andre catches Cruz right on the button with a cross.
Cruz misses with a leg kick
enabling Andre to counter with a crisp jab.
Andre takes a jab right on the kisser.
Andre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Andre.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Andre blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Andre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Andre tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Andre looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Andre.
Alex Andre is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz takes a swing at Andre's ribcage but misses.
Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Alex Andre is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Andre looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Andre sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Andre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Andre will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alex Andre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Humberto Cruz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Andre takes one on the button.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Andre.
Andre lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to score with low kicks.
A head kick by Cruz misses
and Andre counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Andre shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cruz eats them both and turns towards Andre to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Andre backs away looking to recover.
Andre is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Andre pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cruz is out of range and Andre settles back down.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Andre quickly recovers to half guard.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Andre has one foot on Cruz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Andre slips the punch.
Andre thows a left - swing and a miss!
Andre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre looks to clinch

and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Andre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.
Andre cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Andre looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Andre is retaining full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz advances to half guard.
Andre tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Humberto Cruz just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Andre attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cruz misses with a leg kick.
Cruz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Andre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.

Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Andre to the ground. Cruz is now in Andre's guard.
Andre has Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Andre looking for a sweep. Not yet Andre, not yet.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andre is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz prevents Andre from getting back to his feet.

Andre wriggles free and stands up.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Andre.
Sloppy strikes from Andre. Those never looked like landing.
Andre rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice shot by Cruz.
Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a head kick. Andre tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cruz wants to land a leg kick but Andre is out of range.
Andre lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cruz backs up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Andre scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Andre shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cruz eats them both and turns towards Andre to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Andre fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab, jab by Cruz - just one landing.
Andre wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz lands a jab-cross combination.
Andre misses with a low kick.
A left lands for Cruz.
Nice cross by Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre scores with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Andre. Those never looked like landing.
Cruz shoots in but Andre avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Andre.
Cruz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Andre throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Andre swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A punch lands to the side of Cruz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Andre takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Andre takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre blocks a jab.
Cruz scores with a jab.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Andre.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Andre, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Andre against the cage but Andre circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andre checks a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Andre, right into the meat.
A low kick from Cruz misses
and Andre counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Andre looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz avoids the body shot from Andre.
Andre ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Andre makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Humberto Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Andre.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Andre is avoiding it.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Andre looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Andre manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Andre scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cruz in his tracks.
Andre misses with a low kick.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz throws a low kick, looking for Andre's leg but Andre calmly moves out of range.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Andre throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Andre.
Andre wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. Andre looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Andre misses with a head kick.
Andre takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz connects with a jab.
Cruz slips a straight right by Andre.
Andre is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Andre lands with a hook. Cruz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Andre scores with a jab.
Andre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Andre throws a push kick but Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Nice jab there from Andre.
Alex Andre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre misses with a looping left.
Andre checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cruz thumps Andre with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Andre moves away.
Andre slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Andre is out of range.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Andre.
Andre tries a low kick but Cruz avoids it.
Nice body punch from Andre.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Andre tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Andre takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Andre drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Cruz blocks a body shot from Andre.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cruz.
Humberto Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cruz unloads a knee to the mid-section. Andre lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cruz has Andre pressed against the cage.
Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Andre digs a right hand into Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cruz's gas tank.
Come on Andre - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Andre struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.
Andre doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Andre tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Andre back against the cage.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Andre misses with a punch on the inside.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Andre is keeping busy.
Andre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cruz's elbow.
Andre throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Andre misses with a punch to the body.
Andre tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Andre misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Andre controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Andre showed his dominance in that final round.
I think 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 48:47
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alex Andre!
Alex Andre retains his welterweight title!
Alex Andre thanked the fans post fight for their support.