PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roco de Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

de Cruz
vs
Martin

185 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

182 cm
24
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Roco de Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Martin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
de Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Martin.
Some wild striking there from de Cruz.
de Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Martin.
de Cruz misses with a body shot.
Martin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by de Cruz.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt - de Cruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
de Cruz misses with a double jab

and Martin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in de Cruz's guard now.
Martin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Martin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as de Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
Martin won't allow de Cruz to get back to his feet.
de Cruz keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
Martin looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Cruz is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Martin dives into side control.
de Cruz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if de Cruz tries to get out of the position.

Martin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but de Cruz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Martin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
de Cruz is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de Cruz prevents Martin from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You can see the frustration on de Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Martin in side control, throwing shots but de Cruz defends.
You can see the frustration on de Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
de Cruz tests Martin's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like James Martin has been cut.
de Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Martin throws out the jab.
de Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martin circles away quickly and effectively.
de Cruz misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a combination that misses
and de Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
de Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Martin throws out the jab.
Roco de Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
de Cruz's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and de Cruz duly obliges.
de Cruz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
de Cruz misses with a combination
and Martin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

de Cruz lands a left and a right that send Martin crashing to the mat, dazed. de Cruz thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Martin is rocked!
de Cruz misses with a combination
and Martin counters with a one-two to the body.
Martin is still on wobbly legs! Can de Cruz finish him?
Martin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martin seems to have recovered his senses.

Martin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Martin swings around for an armbar but de Cruz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Martin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martin is on top in guard.
Martin with a flurry of punches that miss.

Martin has gone for a leg lock! de Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Martin's guard.
Martin looks gassed!
de Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
de Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
de Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de Cruz is looking to stand up but Martin won't let him.
de Cruz won't allow Martin to sweep him here.
de Cruz wants to stand but Martin is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roco de Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Martin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

de Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Martin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That has opened up James Martin's cut even more.
de Cruz throws a sloppy body shot
and Martin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from de Cruz misses.
de Cruz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Martin closes the distance and clinches up with de Cruz, looking for a takedown. Martin pushes de Cruz against the cage but de Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Martin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed de Cruz's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Martin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and de Cruz defends it well.
Martin is breathing heavily.
de Cruz is staying active underneath Martin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
de Cruz wants to get back to his feet.

Martin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. de Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Martin.
de Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Martin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
de Cruz trying to control from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Martin tests de Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Martin misses with a series of wild punches.
de Cruz misses the shot to the body.
de Cruz misses with a combination
and Martin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
de Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin dives in and grabs de Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. de Cruz pushes down on Martin's head and hops out.
de Cruz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Martin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martin lands a two punch combo.
de Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Martin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
de Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Nice jab there from Martin.
A swing and a miss from de Cruz.
Martin with a hook.
de Cruz throws a series of punches but Martin moves out of range.
de Cruz misses with a combination
and de Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a right hand that de Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that de Cruz also avoids with ease.
de Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martin digs a good body shot into de Cruz's ribs.
de Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Martin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in de Cruz's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martin is looking to work some ground and pound but de Cruz has wrist control.
de Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Martin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Martin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Martin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin is looking to work some ground and pound but de Cruz has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Martin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Martin dives in and grabs de Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. de Cruz pushes down on Martin's head and hops out.
de Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martin.
Martin blocks a head kick by de Cruz.
de Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Martin.
A jab from Martin misses.
Martin misses with an uppercut.
de Cruz misses with a combination
enabling Martin to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de Cruz lands a jab-cross combination.
de Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Martin counters with a series of strikes. de Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as de Cruz sprawls well. de Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Martin gets slowly back to his feet.
Roco de Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Martin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Martin.
Martin misses with an uppercut.
de Cruz misses with a double jab.
Nice body punch from de Cruz.
Martin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from de Cruz.
Martin misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling de Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Martin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but de Cruz swivels and escapes.
de Cruz looks to land a combination. Martin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

The cut above James Martin's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
de Cruz misses with a leg kick.
de Cruz lands a slapping body shot.
Roco de Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Cruz throws a combination. Martin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
de Cruz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
de Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Good work by Martin as he checks the leg kick.
de Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Martin counter with a right hand.
Martin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
de Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
de Cruz misses with a double jab
and Martin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
de Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
de Cruz stalks Martin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Martin's face. Martin staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Cruz lands a jab.

Martin drives through with a takedown into guard.

Martin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Martin wants to control from the top but de Cruz keeps moving.
Martin looking to pass the guard.
de Cruz looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin is looking to work some ground and pound but de Cruz has wrist control.
Martin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
de Cruz keeping full guard, as Martin tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Martin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
de Cruz misses the shot to the body.
de Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Martin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Martin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but de Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roco de Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think de Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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