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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Liam Johnson (ranked 4438 p4p, 4344 weight class) and Damien Cruz (ranked 172 p4p, 0 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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| 183 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0 |
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188 cm
23
197
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined |
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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damien Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cruz tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
It looks like Damien Cruz has been cut.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Johnson has Cruz pushed against the cage.
Cruz avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Cruz blocks the elbow strike.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Cruz tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz lands a body punch.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Liam Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cruz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Cruz cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
Cruz tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Cruz looking to stall.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz digs a right hand into Johnson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johnson's gas tank.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Cruz.
Cruz gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Cruz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cruz pushes Johnson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cruz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right handed body shot lands from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cruz blocks the elbow strike.
Cruz letting Johnson take a breather here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Cruz.
Cruz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz stalling in the clinch.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
Cruz lands with a short shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Damien Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cruz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Cruz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson lands a damaging elbow.
Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Cruz.
Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz lands with a left to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cruz blocks the elbow strike.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short left from Cruz.
Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson stalling against the cage.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Cruz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cruz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz lands a left hand.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cruz blocks the elbow strike.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz lands with a left to the head.
Cruz lands a nice uppercut.
Cruz tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Cruz lands with a right to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
A shot in the inside from Cruz.
Damien Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stalling in the clinch from Cruz.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Cruz tries to tie him up.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson has Cruz pushed against the cage.
Cruz tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz is working Johnson over against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Damien Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damien Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Cruz misses with the head strike.
Cruz lands a left hand.
Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Cruz digs a right hand into Johnson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johnson's gas tank.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cruz wants to stall.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cruz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
Cruz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Cruz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Cruz.
A right hand to the body from Cruz.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz lands a right hand.
Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Cruz.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Cruz.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz clinches.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson tries to clinch up
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Damien Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cruz's brow.
Johnson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Cruz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Damien Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Liam Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Cruz lands an uppercut.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Damien 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Damien Cruz!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Damien Cruz!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Damien Cruz!
Damien Cruz wins by unanimous decision!
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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
56% |
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