PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Norberto Lancaster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mix Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lancaster
vs
Dela Cruz

190 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

168 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norberto Lancaster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mix Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Dela Cruz instigates a clinch.

Dela Cruz drags the fight down to the ground.
Dela Cruz controlling Lancaster's posture.

Dela Cruz pushes Lancaster off and scrambles back to his feet.
Dela Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dela Cruz thumps Lancaster with a low kick.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dela Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lancaster is trying to get back to half guard.
Dela Cruz staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lancaster is not content to let Dela Cruz control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lancaster is looking to reverse the position.
Lancaster is working hard here to advance position.

Dela Cruz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Dela Cruz rushes Lancaster and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dela Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lancaster is looking to score with low kicks.
Dela Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Lancaster's front leg but catches the back leg as Lancaster tries to avoid it.
Lancaster motions for Dela Cruz to come forward. Lancaster throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Dela Cruz feints and as Lancaster raises his hands in defense, Dela Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dela Cruz stands up from Lancaster's guard - Dela Cruz perhaps looking for a knockout.
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!

Dela Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.

Dela Cruz manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster landing with the ground and pound.
Lancaster throws a big right hand that misses.
Lancaster really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lancaster accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dela Cruz is trying to keep Lancaster in close.
Lancaster in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Dela Cruz is looking for a triangle but Lancaster pushes his legs off easily.
Dela Cruz is looking to stand up but Lancaster isn't so interested in that idea.
Lancaster throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster postures up in Dela Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Dela Cruz blocks it.

Dela Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lancaster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lancaster stands up over Dela Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lancaster lands a couple of elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lancaster missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Dela Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lancaster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dela Cruz is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mix Dela Cruz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dela Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Dela Cruz decides to stand back up. Dela Cruz steps back and let's Lancaster get back to his feet.

Dela Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.

Dela Cruz pulls guard successfully.

Lancaster avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dela Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Lancaster keeps moving.
Lancaster wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lancaster swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dela Cruz won't allow Lancaster to get back to his feet.
Lancaster trying to keep a closed guard but Dela Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dela Cruz controlling from the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dela Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lancaster avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dela Cruz.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Dela Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lancaster to get to his feet.
Lancaster throws a solid leg kick but Dela Cruz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lancaster.

Dela Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Dela Cruz lands a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lancaster looking for a sweep. Not yet Lancaster, not yet.
Dela Cruz postures up in Lancaster's guard and throws a big left but Lancaster blocks it.
Dela Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lancaster will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dela Cruz passes Lancaster's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lancaster!
Dela Cruz punching from mount but Lancaster doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Dela Cruz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Dela Cruz is breathing heavily.
Lancaster is trying desperately to improve position.
Lancaster tries to hold on but Dela Cruz pushes him away.
Dela Cruz throws some wild stikes that Lancaster manages to avoid easily.
Lancaster wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dela Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Dela Cruz is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Dela Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dela Cruz is looking to stall here but Lancaster recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mix Dela 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. This is the final round!

Dela Cruz pushes Lancaster up against the cage in a clinch.
Lancaster changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dela Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Dela Cruz drives through and clinches with Lancaster against the cage.
Dela Cruz pushes Lancaster back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lancaster can't get the takedown.
Stalling in the clinch from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Lancaster has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dela Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A solid body kick from Lancaster.
Dela Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Lancaster, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norberto Lancaster. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dela Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lancaster keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Dela Cruz stands up out of the half guard.
Mix Dela Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lancaster's half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dela Cruz trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz stops Lancaster from getting back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dela Cruz gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Dela Cruz throws a right and a left that Lancaster avoids nicely.

Dela Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Lancaster.
Dela Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Lancaster has him pressed against the cage.
Dela Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Dela Cruz has Lancaster pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dela Cruz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lancaster tumbling to the mat - Dela Cruz dives into Lancaster's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lancaster is keeping the position for now.
Dela Cruz 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.

Dela Cruz stands up and waves to Lancaster to follow him.
Dela Cruz misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz gets the takedown into side control.
Lancaster dodges the ground and pound from Dela Cruz.
Lancaster tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Dela Cruz has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Lancaster's body.
Dela Cruz doesn't have the hooks in and Lancaster manages to turn into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dela Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Norberto Lancaster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mix Dela Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lancaster is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mix Dela Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dela Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mix Dela Cruz!