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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raate Road (ranked 235 p4p, 837 weight class) and Matt Cruz (ranked 32 p4p, 120 weight class). Road kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is For Heavy Metal we will die!. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.
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| 183 cm
24
173
9 - 0 - 0 |
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175 cm
21
170
8 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raate Road!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Road defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Road throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz wants to counter with a clinch but Road pushes him away.
Road misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
A jab from Cruz does it's job there.
Cruz misses with a body punch
and Road counters with a straight right hand.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cruz has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cruz throws a hook but Road blocks it.
Road bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cruz's head.
Nice defenses there by Road.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Road was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
Road scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Road closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz wants to break free but Road has control.
Road has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Road lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Road.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Road throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Road scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Road manages to break the clinch.
Road throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Road throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Road tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Road.
Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Road connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
Road looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Road fires out a quick counter leg kick but Cruz just manages to avoid it.
Road lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Road is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Road is just out of range.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Road was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cruz.
Raate Road is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Road changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Road misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Road is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!
Road doesn't have the hooks in and Cruz manages to turn into his guard.
Cruz won't allow Road to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Road controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. Road uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by Road!
Cruz is looking for a triangle here but Road uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Road is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Road has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Road there.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Road has control of the leg.
Cruz is still trying to improve position.
Road slips a nice elbow through Cruz's hands, connecting with Cruz's forehead.
Road lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Road lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz moves into full guard.
Cruz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Road stacks Cruz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Road!
Cruz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Raate Road dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Road is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Road tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Road looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruz walks into a stiff left hand from Road.
A shot to the liver by Road. Beautiful body shot.
A slow jab from Road misses its intended target.
Cruz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Road uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Road lands a jab to the nose.
Road lands a leg kick that knocks Cruz off balance momentarily.
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Road throws a right hand that misses
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz throws an off balance right hand
enabling Road to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Road moves away and avoids it.
Cruz throws a body punch but Road moves out of range.
Road tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cruz manages to circle out of the way.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Road.
Cruz throws a hook but Road blocks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Road.
Road lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cruz misses with a jab to the body
and Road makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice jab there from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Road.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Road counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Road lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Road throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses the jab.
Road misses with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Road looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Road throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Road takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Road swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Road doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Cruz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cruz cracks a nice hook into Road's ribs.
Cruz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Road with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Road tries to sprawl but Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz misses with a head shot. Road uses the momentum to regain guard.
Road has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Matt Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Road fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Road throws a head kick that half lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Road misses the target.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Road.
An attempted straight right counter from Road misses the target.
Cruz throws a body punch but Road moves out of range.
Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Cruz.
Cruz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Road defends it well.
Cruz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Road throws a right hand that misses
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Raate Road is winning the standup battle so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Road gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cruz throws the left hand but Road avoids the punch easily.
Road throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Road rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Road throws a head punch that misses.
Road lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Road.
A right handed body shot lands from Cruz.
Road lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cruz or not.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
A short right from Road.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cruz misses with some punches.
Road lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Road's elbow.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Road lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Road after a bit of a struggle.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Road lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Road.
Road breaks the clinch.
Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Road has taken the fight into the clinch.
Road swings wildly with an uppercut but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Road moved out of range.
Road throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Road ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Road throws a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Road counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Road pushes Cruz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Road pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Road throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz connects with a jab.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Road.
Good leg kick by Road.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Nice cross by Road.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Road counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
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!
Jab, jab by Road - just one landing.
Cruz swings for the body but Road moves out of range.
Road misses with an uppercut
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Road counters with a two punch combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Raate Road clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Cruz thuds a left hand into Road's body.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Road.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Road.
Road throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Road quickly recovers to half guard.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Road is looking to improve his position.
Cruz winds up and cracks Road with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Road gets back to full guard.
Road seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Road's brow.
Road had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Road works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Road trying to control the position.
Road working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cruz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Road looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Road preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Road looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Road is on top in guard.
Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Road stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Road has passed into side control.
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Road keeps moving and retains side control.
Road wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Road lands a decent elbow from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Road in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Matt Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Cruz dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Cruz blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Road looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Road moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Road misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Road napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Road tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.
Road takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Road is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Road sneaks back into half guard.
Cruz throwing shots but Road is blocking nicely.
Road moves into full guard.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Road works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Road has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Road keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz throws a strike but Road rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Road is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz throws a strike but Road rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Road's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Road won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Cruz wants to hit a sweep here but Road passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cruz there!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz taking shots to the head.
Road looking to control but Cruz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Road pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cruz is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Road takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cruz tries to roll over but Road keeps him under control.
Road wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Road looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cruz is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Road jumps into side control!
Road grinds an elbow into Cruz's temple.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Road scoring with strikes.
Cruz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Road is working Cruz over with some ground and pound from side control.
Road is staying tight to Cruz's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cruz looks to move to half guard but instead Road has passed into mount! Damn!
And that's the end of the fight!
Raate Road showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Road has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 49:47
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 49:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raate Road!
Raate Road retains his welterweight title!
In his post fight interview, Raate Road started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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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
56% |
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