PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Dela Cruz looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Dela Cruz
vs
Emerson

194 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Emerson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emerson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dela Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dela Cruz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A big left from Emerson misses.
Dela Cruz slips a straight right by Emerson.
Emerson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emerson throws a solid leg kick but Dela Cruz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Emerson.
Emerson throws a predictable looking body shot

and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dela Cruz prevents Emerson from improving his position.
Emerson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Emerson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emerson wants to sweep here but Dela Cruz controlling him for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Emerson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Dela Cruz has picked Emerson up and slammed him! Emerson can't keep hold of the triangle and Dela Cruz manages to pass to side control!
Emerson is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson is still trying to improve position.
Dela Cruz trying to control the action but Emerson is working from the bottom.
Emerson is looking for a sweep.
Emerson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Emerson manages to get back to half guard.
Emerson keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emerson manages to get to full guard.
Dela Cruz won't allow Emerson to sweep him here.
Emerson has Dela Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Emerson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dela Cruz is one step ahead there.
Emerson pulls Dela Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Emerson wants to stand but Dela Cruz is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emerson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dela Cruz is aware though and is defending well.
Emerson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Emerson pulls Dela Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Emerson keeps moving.
Emerson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Emerson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dela Cruz is fighting to break Emerson's control of his arms but Emerson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Emerson wants to sweep here but Dela Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Dela Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Emerson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dela Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Emerson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Emerson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dela Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emerson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emerson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dela Cruz's guard.
Emerson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dela Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Emerson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Emerson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Emerson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dela Cruz to the ground. Emerson is now in Dela Cruz's guard.
Dela Cruz has momentary wrist control but Emerson slips an elbow through the middle.
Emerson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dela Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emerson.
Sam Emerson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dela Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Emerson landing with the ground and pound.
Emerson stands up over Dela Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Emerson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emerson distracts Dela Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson is working Dela Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Emerson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Emerson passes Dela Cruz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Emerson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Emerson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Emerson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Emerson lands with a punch from half guard.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Emerson.
Emerson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dela Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Emerson lands a nice short elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emerson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Emerson drops an elbow to the side of Dela Cruz's head.
Emerson working over Dela Cruz with some ground and pound. Dela Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dela Cruz is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Emerson lands a nice short elbow.
Emerson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Emerson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Emerson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Emerson with the ground and pound but Dela Cruz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.
Emerson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dela Cruz has momentary wrist control but Emerson slips an elbow through the middle.
Emerson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Dela Cruz keeps moving.
Emerson passes into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emerson moves nicely into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emerson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dela Cruz to see if he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Emerson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dela Cruz avoids the head kick by Emerson.
Emerson misses with a straight right.
Emerson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dela Cruz misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Emerson misses.
Emerson misses with a straight left.

Emerson moves into the clinch.

Emerson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Emerson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dela Cruz's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emerson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson landing with the ground and pound.
Emerson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Emerson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Emerson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Emerson has eaten all the pies!
Emerson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Emerson trying to control the position but Dela Cruz is working away.
Dela Cruz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emerson working the ground and pound from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dela Cruz is not content to let Emerson control the position.
Dela Cruz dodges the ground and pound from Emerson.
Emerson is looking to take a break and control but Dela Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emerson staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emerson grinds an elbow into Dela Cruz's temple.
Emerson scoring with punches and elbows.
Emerson lands some shots froms side control.
Dela Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Emerson scoring with strikes.
Emerson throws an elbow but Dela Cruz slips to the side and avoids it well.
Emerson landing a few strikes.
Emerson cracks Dela Cruz with a big elbow.

Dela Cruz is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emerson lands a strong strike to the head of Dela Cruz. That's dazed him! Emerson looking to finish here. Dela Cruz is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Emerson lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Emerson!