PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Sulphur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Sulphur
vs
Cruz

192 cm
24
197 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lorenzo Sulphur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ernesto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sulphur is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Sulphur circles away and we're back to standing.
Sulphur with a nice cross.
Sulphur has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Jungle Elite MMA in the buildup to the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sulphur lands with a light punch inside.

Sulphur gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sulphur trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sulphur is really struggling to control Cruz but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Sulphur pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sulphur throwing strikes but missing.
Sulphur with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sulphur slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sulphur throwing strikes but missing.
Sulphur is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Sulphur loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sulphur throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sulphur's guard. Nice move by Cruz!
Sulphur controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
Sulphur looking for a sweep. Not yet Sulphur, not yet.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Sulphur is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sulphur manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Sulphur's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sulphur tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sulphur throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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!
Cruz is looking to stand up but Sulphur won't let him.
Sulphur throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Sulphur wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz postures up.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Sulphur 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.
Cruz is fighting to break Sulphur's control of his arms but Sulphur is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulphur is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lorenzo Sulphur.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Sulphur sprawls well.
Sulphur swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Sulphur throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Sulphur uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Sulphur sprawls well.
Lorenzo Sulphur has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesto Cruz.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Sulphur.
Sulphur is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sulphur down to the mat. Sulphur avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cruz with a poor takedown
letting Sulphur counter with a right hand.
Cruz tries to clinch but Sulphur moves away
and Sulphur counters with a nice body shot.
Sulphur throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz wants to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Sulphur circles away.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Sulphur circles away.
Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sulphur lands with a good body shot.
A big right from Sulphur misses.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Sulphur keeps it at a distance.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
We've been informed that Cruz has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Sulphur loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Cruz tries to clinch but Sulphur moves away
and Sulphur counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruz tries to clinch but Sulphur moves away
and Sulphur counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Cruz is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sulphur paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Sulphur finish him?
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Sulphur circles away.
Sulphur changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz seems to have recovered his senses.
Sulphur lands with a shot to the body.
Sulphur swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Sulphur dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz drops his hands momentarily and Sulphur takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sulphur's guard.
Sulphur throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sulphur has momentary wrist control but Cruz slips an elbow through the middle.
Sulphur bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Sulphur working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz is pulling down on Sulphur's head to control his posture.
Sulphur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sulphur trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sulphur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sulphur from controlling successfully.
Sulphur lands a couple of digs.
Sulphur loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz looking to control.
Sulphur trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz is pulling down on Sulphur's head. It's preventing any offense from Sulphur, at least for the moment.
Sulphur 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 landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sulphur wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz is working Sulphur over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sulphur not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sulphur looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Sulphur lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Sulphur is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cruz postures up in Sulphur's guard and throws a big left but Sulphur blocks it.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Sulphur controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
Sulphur controlling Cruz's posture.
Ernesto Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Sulphur manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sulphur avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Sulphur breaks from Cruz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cruz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sulphur sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sulphur lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sulphur punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz regains half guard.
Sulphur with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sulphur thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sulphur is working away from the top position though.
Sulphur is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sulphur is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sulphur is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lorenzo Sulphur will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sulphur swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz moves to clinch but Sulphur breaks away
and Sulphur counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sulphur misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Sulphur sprawls well.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sulphur avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sulphur sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Lorenzo Sulphur has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesto Cruz.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Sulphur pushes him off.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Sulphur circles away.
A left lands for Sulphur.
Sulphur scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sulphur defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Sulphur into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Sulphur manages to break the clinch.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Sulphur circles away.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Sulphur.
Cruz shoots in but Sulphur avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Sulphur pushes him off.
Sulphur is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sulphur fails to land with a series of punches.
Sulphur connects with a jab.

Sulphur shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cruz's guard.
Sulphur is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sulphur missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sulphur cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Sulphur in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Sulphur wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sulphur stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sulphur tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Sulphur is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sulphur tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulphur postures up.
Sulphur throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
Cruz will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sulphur trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sulphur passes Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sulphur seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sulphur is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Sulphur throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sulphur misses with a head shot. Cruz uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sulphur trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sulphur throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sulphur accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz controls Sulphur momentarily but Sulphur frees himself.
Cruz has Sulphur pulled in close to control his posture.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sulphur postures up.
Ernesto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sulphur throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenzo Sulphur showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sulphur, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Sulphur!
After winning the bout, Lorenzo Sulphur thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.