PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gulun Shulun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cruz
vs
Shulun

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gulun Shulun!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shulun moves into the clinch.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shulun manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shulun changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shulun is defended easily by Cruz.

Shulun moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz looking to stall.
Shulun slows down the pace here.
Cruz blocks a body shot from Shulun.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz wants to control the position but Shulun says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Shulun lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shulun not doing much here.

Shulun decides to stand and escape the position.
Gulun Shulun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shulun rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shulun lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Shulun lands a takedown into guard.
Cruz is wriggling around but Shulun manages to pass to half guard.
Shulun seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Shulun is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shulun trying to pass the guard but Cruz defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shulun sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Shulun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Shulun is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shulun seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Shulun decides to stand and escape the position.

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.
Cruz is looking to clinch.

Shulun pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.

Shulun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Shulun bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Shulun pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.

Shulun pulls Cruz into guard.
Shulun pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gulun Shulun dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shulun decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz is trying to escape back to his feet but Shulun uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Shulun taking a breather here.
Shulun landing a few strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Shulun scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shulun works to advance to full mount. Cruz defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Shulun looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cruz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Shulun controlling from the full mount.

Shulun get's back to his feet.

Shulun moves into the clinch successfully.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.

Shulun escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shulun looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cruz!
Shulun scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cruz to see if he's OK.
Shulun scores with a couple of short elbows.
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!
Shulun in side control lands a decent elbow.

Shulun working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shulun landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is letting Shulun control him for a moment.
Shulun's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Shulun working the ground and pound from side control.

Shulun stands up and beckons Cruz to his feet.
Shulun tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shulun darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz is trying to escape back to his feet but Shulun uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Shulun taking a breather here.

Shulun decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cruz to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gulun Shulun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shulun tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Shulun shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Shulun shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shulun is out of range.
Shulun closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Matthew Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gulun Shulun.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shulun doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Cruz appears to be looking for a big counter.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Shulun leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cruz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shulun drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cruz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shulun after a bit of a struggle.
Shulun has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shulun misses with a double jab.

Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Shulun in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Shulun has him pressed against the cage.
Shulun jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Shulun gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Shulun shoots in and gets a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Shulun is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cruz pushes Shulun off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Shulun looks to land a body kick but Cruz moved away.

Cruz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shulun to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shulun engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Shulun passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shulun lands a nice short elbow.

That's four 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Shulun works his way into full mount!
Shulun lands a couple of good shots and Cruz has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Shulun.
Cruz tries to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matthew Cruz.
I think Shulun has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gulun Shulun!