PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shicko Boom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shicko Boom could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Frank Cruz's chin.

Boom
vs
Cruz

182 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Shicko Boom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cruz stalling.
Boom pushes Cruz off looking to stand but Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Boom is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cruz trying to control the action but Boom is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Boom is defending the position.
Boom tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cruz shoots in and bounces Boom off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boom doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Boom trying to control the position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Boom is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom has control of Cruz's left arm, preventing Cruz from doing any damage.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Boom, up you get!
Boom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boom misses with a head kick.
Boom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.

Boom drags the fight down to the ground.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz tries to hold on but Boom pushes him away.
Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz shoots in and drives through. Boom sprawls well.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Boom looks to clinch

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.

Cruz decides to stand back up. Cruz steps back and let's Boom get back to his feet.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boom moves into full guard.
Boom wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boom manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Boom avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Boom isn't that keen on the idea.
Boom tries to control but Cruz wriggling away.
Cruz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Boom with shots to the head and body - Cruz looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Boom isn't that keen on the idea.

Boom is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Boom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boom fails with the takedown.
Boom stuffs the takedown.
Shicko Boom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Cruz.

Boom rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
Boom wants to break free but Cruz has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Boom around his waist. Boom gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Boom is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Boom into the cage.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cruz trying to control but Boom is having none of it.
Boom stops Cruz from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Frank Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boom is trying to control but can't.

Boom manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boom trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank 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!

Boom gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Boom looking to control.
Boom is really struggling to control Cruz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boom wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz is pushing down on Boom's leg trying to pass to half guard. Boom is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Boom won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boom tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz is controlling the pace.
Boom wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Boom is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boom wants to get back to full guard.
Boom trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.

Cruz stands up out of the half guard.
Frank Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but can't.
You can see the frustration on Boom's face as Cruz controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Boom tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Boom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Shicko Boom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Boom to pass into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Cruz!