PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Zakrzewski (ranked 25191 p4p, 4432 weight class) and Julio Santos Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Zakrzewski
vs
Santos Cruz

175 cm
18
155
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Krzysztof Zakrzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Julio Santos Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrzewski jabs at Santos Cruz's body.
Santos Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

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

Zakrzewski throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
A punch combination from Zakrzewski misses.
Santos Cruz feints the counter takedown.
Santos Cruz wants to clinch up but Zakrzewski keeps it at a distance.
A little feinted left hand from Zakrzewski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zakrzewski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zakrzewski thumps Santos Cruz with a low kick.
Santos Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Zakrzewski pushes him off.
It looked like Zakrzewski was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Santos Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Santos Cruz working away.
Zakrzewski is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zakrzewski is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zakrzewski trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrzewski is looking for a sweep.
Santos Cruz in side control, throwing shots but Zakrzewski defends.
You can see the frustration on Zakrzewski's face as Santos Cruz controls the position.
Zakrzewski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Santos Cruz tries to roll over but Zakrzewski keeps him under control.
Zakrzewski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Santos Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Santos Cruz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Cruz trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Zakrzewski controlling from mount.
Zakrzewski scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Zakrzewski in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Zakrzewski is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Santos Cruz wants to hold on but Zakrzewski pushes him away.
Santos Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Santos Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Santos Cruz wants to control but Zakrzewski is keeping busy.
Well, if Zakrzewski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zakrzewski landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santos Cruz manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zakrzewski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zakrzewski wants to control from the top but Santos Cruz keeps moving.
Zakrzewski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santos Cruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Santos Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Santos Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Krzysztof Zakrzewski dominated that round.
That's time! Zakrzewski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Zakrzewski.

Zakrzewski gets tackled into the cage by Santos Cruz. Santos Cruz maintains the clinch.
Santos Cruz prevents Zakrzewski from breaking the clinch.
Zakrzewski is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Zakrzewski is trying to break free.
Zakrzewski is trying to force a seperation but Santos Cruz has the dominant position.
Zakrzewski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Santos Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos Cruz is trying to drag Zakrzewski to the mat but Zakrzewski just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Santos Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrzewski struggling a bit here.
Zakrzewski keeps Santos Cruz under control for a moment.
Santos Cruz controls the position from side control.
Zakrzewski managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Santos Cruz.
Zakrzewski is trying to improve his position.

Santos Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zakrzewski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Santos Cruz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Santos Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Zakrzewski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zakrzewski taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zakrzewski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Santos Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zakrzewski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Santos Cruz's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santos Cruz is working away from the top position though.

Santos Cruz decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zakrzewski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santos Cruz as he avoids it easily.

Zakrzewski shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Santos Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Santos Cruz is pulling down on Zakrzewski's head. It's preventing any offense from Zakrzewski, at least for the moment.
Santos Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos Cruz, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos Cruz is looking for a triangle but Zakrzewski pushes his legs off easily.
Santos Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zakrzewski manages to get himself to full guard.

Santos Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santos Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Santos Cruz wants to control from the top but Zakrzewski keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Santos Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos Cruz darts in and clinches Zakrzewski up against the cage.
Santos Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Zakrzewski's takedown attempt.

Santos Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zakrzewski shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santos Cruz is trying to defend but Zakrzewski finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Santos Cruz has one foot on Zakrzewski's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zakrzewski trying to control but Santos Cruz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos Cruz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zakrzewski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Santos Cruz controlling the pace.
Zakrzewski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santos Cruz.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zakrzewski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zakrzewski wants to control but Santos Cruz is keeping busy.
Santos Cruz slips a nice elbow through Zakrzewski's hands, connecting with Zakrzewski's forehead.

That's two 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.
Santos Cruz is thwarting Zakrzewski's attempts to control the position.
Zakrzewski taking some punishment here, with Santos Cruz in his half guard.
Santos Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zakrzewski wants to improve his position but Santos Cruz is controlling well.
Santos Cruz slips a nice elbow through Zakrzewski's hands, connecting with Zakrzewski's forehead.
Santos Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zakrzewski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zakrzewski keeps working.
Nice strikes from Santos Cruz there.
Santos Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zakrzewski defending well though.

Santos Cruz is trying for a kimura here. Zakrzewski looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Santos Cruz wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Julio Santos Cruz!
Julio Santos Cruz spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.