PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Victor Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neo Joker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Cruz looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cruz
vs
Joker

173 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neo Joker!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joker dives in and scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Joker should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cruz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joker controls the pace.
Joker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Joker tries to pass.
Joker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joker stays in close to Cruz's body and controls the position.

Neo Joker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joker shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joker working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Joker trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joker scoring with punches from side control.
A lull in the action here as Joker stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Joker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cruz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Joker working the ground and pound.
Joker working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Joker working the ground and pound but Cruz is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Joker cracks Cruz with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Joker landing a few strikes.
Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Joker is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Joker moves into full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joker looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neo Joker dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joker shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cruz is trying to defend but Joker finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Joker is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Joker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Joker eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Joker sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

Neo Joker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cruz sprawls well initially but Joker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Let's hope that Joker 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.
Joker is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Joker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Neo Joker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Cruz gets caught napping as Joker dives in and scores a takedown. Cruz manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neo Joker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz tries to sprawl but Joker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Joker is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joker is controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Neo Joker was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Joker shoots in and gets a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Joker working some strikes from top position.
Joker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Joker's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Neo Joker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joker looking to score a takedown here. Cruz is defending well but Joker drives through and ends up in Cruz's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Joker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Joker trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joker sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Neo Joker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Joker darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.

Joker turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Neo Joker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joker slows the pace down.

Joker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Joker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Joker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joker is chipping away with strikes.
Joker controlling from side mount.
Joker working the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neo Joker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 24:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 24:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neo Joker!