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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richie Simpson (ranked 1802 p4p, 1379 weight class) and Darian Cruz (ranked 202 p4p, 160 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Darian Cruz enters the cage!
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| 180 cm
30
154
16 - 4 - 0 |
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171 cm
32
145
9 - 6 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Decent elbows
KO power |
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Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richie Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Simpson lands with a hook. Cruz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Simpson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz unleashes a big counter combination but Simpson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cruz not doing much here.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Simpson's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz controlling the action here.
Cruz is pressing down on Simpson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Simpson is holding on for now.
Simpson is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Cruz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Richie Simpson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Simpson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Simpson is looking to get back to his feet here but Cruz is keeping cool and he's managed to take Simpson's back.
Simpson trying to control the hands but Cruz breaks the grip.
Simpson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Simpson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Cruz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Simpson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing with punches from the back.
What can Simpson do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Cruz keeps control of the position as Simpson tries to break free.
Cruz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Simpson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Will Cruz go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Simpson is trying to break free.
Cruz struggling to land strikes to the head as Simpson covers up.
Cruz scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Simpson is looking for a way out.
Cruz lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Simpson.
Cruz controls the position.
Cruz misses with punches from the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz avoiding Simpson 's attempts to control his hands.
Cruz controlling the position well here. Simpson rolled but Cruz kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Darian Cruz 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.
Cruz misses the jab.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a left to the body.
A big right from Cruz misses.
The fighters circling - Simpson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Darian Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Simpson throws a poor cross that misses
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Simpson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Simpson missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Darian Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Richie Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darian Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simpson looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Simpson counter with a right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Simpson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cruz is keen to just control but Simpson is a slippery customer.
Cruz is just content to waste time from the top position. Simpson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Simpson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Simpson controlling him for the moment.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Simpson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simpson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simpson tries to get out of the position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Simpson is keeping the position.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz is working Simpson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Simpson 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.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice defenses there by Simpson.
Simpson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Simpson's shoulder, as Simpson tries to avoid the shot.
Simpson takes one to the side of the head.
Simpson throws a poor cross that misses
and Simpson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz shoots in and bounces Simpson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Darian Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Simpson's head but Simpson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Simpson.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Simpson.
Cruz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Simpson throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Simpson circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Simpson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tests Simpson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Simpson counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Simpson misses the target.
Richie Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darian Cruz.
Cruz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Simpson misses with a left hand
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Simpson slips under a jab from Cruz.
Simpson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Simpson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruz is rocked!
Simpson connects with a picture perfect right hand that knocks Cruz out cold! This one is over in a flash!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Richie Simpson!
Our winner, Richie Simpson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
36% |
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