PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umbabarauma Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Umbabarauma Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Smith

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umbabarauma Smith!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith swinging wilding here.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith misses with a double jab

and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Smith throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cruz escapes and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cruz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Smith seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.

Smith is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umbabarauma Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Eric Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cruz trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Cruz tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith swinging wilding here.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with the combination.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Umbabarauma Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umbabarauma Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umbabarauma Smith!