PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett has chosen X-MEN as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Cruz
vs
Howlett

165 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Very confident

Marvel Combat

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Howlett did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.
Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Howlett is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but Howlett defending well.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is controlling the pace.
Howlett scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Cruz manages to mount him!
Howlett is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

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 tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Howlett tries to buck Cruz off but he can't manage it.
Cruz forces the positional change into back control.
Cruz slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Cruz looking for the choke from the back.
Howlett looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Howlett doesn't escape.
Cruz lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Howlett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howlett tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howlett defends it nicely.
Howlett is looking to clinch.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Howlett tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Howlett moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Howlett tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howlett has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Howlett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howlett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howlett with a knee to the head.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.

It looks like John Cruz has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Howlett just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cruz's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike from Howlett.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Howlett shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Howlett misses with a knee strike.
Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Howlett.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Howlett controls the action.
Howlett with a knee to the head.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
Howlett looking to throw knees to the head but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
Howlett misses with a knee strike.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Howlett pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Howlett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Howlett.
Howlett stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Howlett controls the action.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howlett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howlett throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Howlett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Howlett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Cruz pulls Howlett into guard.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz is pulling down on Howlett's head. It's preventing any offense from Howlett, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett preventing the sweep.
Cruz seems keen to control Howlett's posture.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four 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.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz is pulling down on Howlett's head. It's preventing any offense from Howlett, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Howlett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John Cruz's cut.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howlett is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Howlett doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Howlett is looking to slow Cruz down with leg kicks.
Howlett tries to clinch up.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Howlett tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Howlett shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howlett sprawls well. Howlett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Howlett stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Howlett doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Howlett tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howlett is looking to clinch.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Howlett tries to clinch up.

Howlett clinches with his opponent.
Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Howlett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howlett just stands there and leans against the cage.

Cruz pulls guard successfully.
Cruz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howlett manages to get himself to full guard.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Howlett won't let him.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Howlett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cruz has a closed guard, preventing Howlett from standing up.
Howlett preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Howlett puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cruz is doing well to control the position and prevent Howlett from advancing to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Howlett.
I think Howlett 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!