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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pinocchio Cruz (ranked 4721 p4p, 4801 weight class) and Slappy Johnson (ranked 404 p4p, 187 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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| 167 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0 |
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165 cm
25
142
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
KO power |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pinocchio Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Slappy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Cruz - just one landing.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cruz lands a big right hand that sends Johnson crashing to the mat! Cruz stays standing though and waves Johnson back to his feet!
Johnson is rocked!
Cruz gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throws a strike but Cruz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cruz stays in close to Johnson's body and controls the position.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has his feet on Cruz's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a front kick that sends Cruz stumbling back into the cage.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson breaks the clinch.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pinocchio Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson with the inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson lands a nice knee to the body.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Pinocchio Cruz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Johnson leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cruz misses the body punch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson feints and then cracks Cruz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cruz down.
Johnson stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cruz to the ground. Johnson is now in Cruz's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Johnson is in close to Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cruz wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
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.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.
Cruz swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson trying to advance position but Cruz counters by regaining guard.
Cruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Cruz controlling Johnson's posture.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Johnson 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz is looking for a counter combo.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cruz sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Slappy Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 it was largely blocked by Johnson.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A countering left hand to the body from Johnson misses.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cruz rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnson works the jab nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Johnson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Johnson has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Johnson crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Johnson tightens his grip and picks Cruz up, before dumping him to the ground. Cruz manages to land in guard.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz is trying to keep Johnson in close.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Slappy Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Cruz enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cruz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Johnson throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cruz thinking.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Slappy Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cruz is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Cruz has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that's the end of the fight!
Slappy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slappy Johnson!
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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
50% |
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