PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between tito cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rutherford Haze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). cruz's entrance music is yes. A fine choice. Rutherford Haze has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

cruz
vs
Haze

187 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

GTI - 1337 $10 - $15
GTI - 1337 $10 - $15

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, tito cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rutherford Haze!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
cruz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
cruz throws a shot from downtown. Haze moves away and avoids it.
cruz misses with a looping right.
cruz scores with a jab to the head.
Haze throws a right hand that cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that cruz also avoids with ease.
cruz scores with a body shot.
cruz slips a jab and a cross from Haze.

cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
cruz is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Haze reverses the position - he's now on top in cruz's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
cruz is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cruz trying to strike off his back.

cruz working for a triangle but Haze defends it easily.
Haze wants to control from the top but cruz keeps moving.
cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
cruz trying to control the position.

cruz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Haze passes into side control.
cruz is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
cruz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Haze's best efforts.
cruz is trying to control but Haze passes into side control!
cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Haze has hold of cruz's hands but cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Haze is refusing to be controlled, as cruz sits in half guard.
cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Haze works his way to full guard. Good work.
Haze keeping full guard, as cruz tries to pass.
cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
cruz postures up in Haze's guard and throws a big left but Haze blocks it.
cruz controlling from the top position.
cruz trying to control but Haze is working from the bottom.
cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haze looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
cruz trying to control but Haze is working from the bottom.
Haze is looking to stand up but cruz isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Haze keeping moving, preventing cruz from controlling successfully.
cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
cruz connects with a looping right hand.
Nice jab there from cruz.
Haze avoids the body shot from cruz.
Haze lands with a nice body punch.
Haze misses with a hook to the body
and cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Haze misses with a jab to the body
letting cruz counter with a right hand.
A big right from cruz misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tito cruz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haze moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
cruz throws a hook but Haze blocks it.
Haze avoids the body shot from cruz.
cruz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A punch lands to the side of cruz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A jab from cruz misses.
Haze ducks down and throws a hook to the body but cruz moves away.
cruz cracks Haze with a right hand to the side of the head.
cruz misses the shot to the body.
cruz catches Haze with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
cruz misses with a wild combination.
cruz misses with a wild combination.
Haze throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haze throws a jab but it's blocked by cruz.
A punch lands to the side of Haze 's head but he takes it in his stride.
cruz throws a nice looking combination but Haze bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to de liver by cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Rutherford Haze is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from cruz.
cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Haze looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
cruz scores with a hook to the body. Haze takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze misses the body punch
and cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haze tries to avoid it but cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haze to the ground. Haze escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haze misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from cruz.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by cruz!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Haze counters with a lovely shot to the body.
cruz slips a jab from Haze.
cruz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Haze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like tito cruz has been cut.
Haze ducks under a wild hook from cruz.
tito cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Haze ducks right into an uppercut from cruz.
cruz misses the body punch
and Haze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Haze is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down cruz rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haze swings away with a body shot that misses
and cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
cruz throws a hook to the side of Haze's head but Haze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
cruz lands with a nice body punch.
Haze lands a straight punch to the body, keeping cruz at a distance.
cruz looks to land a combination but Haze avoids it well.
Haze throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haze is breathing heavily.
Haze misses with a body shot.
Haze punishes cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
cruz shoots in for a takedown but Haze shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
cruz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haze loads up on a big right hand but cruz slips the punch.
Haze takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Haze ducks under a wild hook from cruz.
cruz lands with a good body shot.
cruz misses with a body shot.
cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
cruz looks to land a combination but Haze avoids it well.

cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
cruz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
cruz throws an elbow but Haze slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tito cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on tito cruz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
cruz misses with an uppercut. Haze saw that one coming.
cruz misses with a wild combination.
cruz throws a lazy right hand but Haze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A combination from cruz does no damage.
tito cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
cruz throws out a loose jab but Haze uses good head movement to avoid it.
cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Haze.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haze takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Haze misses with a few strikes there.
cruz throws a big shot that misses.
cruz misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze falls off balance throwing a combination
and cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
cruz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Haze tries to move into range but cruz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
cruz throws a big shot that misses.
cruz connects with the punch.
cruz thuds a left hand into Haze's body.
Haze falls off balance throwing a combination
and cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Haze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
cruz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haze has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Haze there as he acknowledges the shot.
Haze throws a series of punches but cruz avoids them all with ease.
Haze displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from cruz.
cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Haze has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by cruz.
Haze takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Haze shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

cruz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Haze!
cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
cruz thowing shots but they're missing.
cruz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Haze takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
cruz raining down shots from the mount!
BOOM! cruz connects with a massive shot to the dome!
cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
A nice elbow there by cruz.
Haze is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rutherford Haze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
cruz lands with some strikes.
cruz breaks from Haze's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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!
A nice elbow there by cruz.
cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
tito cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haze is in all sorts of trouble here.
cruz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
cruz 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haze is in a horrible position here. cruz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Haze in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
tito cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... tito cruz!