PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kaleo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xristian Deadly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Powers That Be. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cruz
vs
Deadly

173 cm
22
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kaleo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xristian Deadly!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Deadly as he jumps to the side.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Deadly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cruz postures up in Deadly's guard and throws a big left but Deadly blocks it.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Deadly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Deadly won't let him.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Deadly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Deadly wants to control but Cruz passes easily into half guard.
Cruz is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Deadly manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to stand but Deadly is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Deadly is working an open guard so Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cruz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Deadly if he has to take too many more of those.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Deadly moves out of range.

Deadly darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet!

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!
Deadly is in all sorts of trouble here.
Deadly manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Deadly actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Deadly is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Deadly avoid being mounted?
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Deadly makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Deadly.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

Deadly throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cruz uses it to pass to side control.

Cruz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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!
Deadly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Deadly.
Deadly closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Deadly pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz throws a nice head kick!
Deadly throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Deadly avoids nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cruz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Deadly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Deadly wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Deadly. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Good shot there by Cruz.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Deadly moved out of range nicely.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz throws a head kick but Deadly moves out of range.
Deadly dips to his left and cracks Cruz with an uppercut!
Deadly shoots in but no luck this time.
Kaleo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xristian Deadly.
Deadly avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Deadly to score with a decent uppercut.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Deadly closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Deadly will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Deadly lands with an uppercut that bounces Cruz off the cage and back into rage.

Deadly shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cruz is trying to defend but Deadly finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Deadly is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Deadly to get the leverage.
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 Kaleo Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cruz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Deadly has a takedown stuffed.
A left and a right from Deadly both land. Nice combination.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Deadly paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Deadly is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaleo Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz advances to half guard.
It looks like Cruz is going to stand back up.
Deadly is trying to control but can't.
Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Deadly is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Deadly trying to control here.
Deadly has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deadly makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Deadly.

Deadly looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The fighters circling - Deadly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Cruz clinches.

Deadly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Deadly fails to land the takedown.
Kaleo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xristian Deadly.
Cruz throws a right hand that Deadly ducks under and follows up with a left that Deadly also avoids with ease.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Deadly avoids nicely.
Cruz moves out of range as Deadly strikes.

Cruz pushes Deadly up against the cage in a clinch.
Deadly tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deadly tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Deadly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Deadly misses with a kick to the body.
Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Deadly moves out of range.
Deadly looks to clinch
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Deadly with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cruz counters with a head kick.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Deadly.
Danga de danga de dang - Cruz scores with a four punch combination!
Deadly finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Deadly avoids a punch combination nicely.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Deadly.
Cruz cracks Deadly with a nice body shot.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cruz clinches up with Deadly and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Deadly shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cruz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Cruz kicks Deadly off and gets back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Deadly.
Deadly fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick from Cruz lands but Deadly takes it in his stride.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Deadly avoids nicely.
Deadly tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a head kick but Deadly moves out of range.
Deadly throws a good cross that connects.

Cruz instigates a clinch.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Deadly cracks Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Deadly scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Deadly shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cruz pushes Deadly off and scrambles back to his feet.
Deadly throws a sloppy head kick
and Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!
Cruz looks to land a combination but Deadly avoids it well.
Deadly wants to clinch
and Cruz counters with a big head kick but Deadly shrugs it off.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Deadly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Deadly shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Deadly tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Deadly takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Deadly throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Deadly is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Deadly is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Deadly is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaleo Cruz dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cruz throws a series of punches but Deadly avoids them all with ease.
Nice defenses there by Cruz.
Cruz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Deadly if he has to take too many more of those.
Cruz looks to land a combination. Deadly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz connects with a high kick.
Deadly shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Deadly there.
Deadly has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Deadly displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.

Deadly scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Deadly stays in close to Cruz's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Deadly won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deadly looking to pass the guard.
Deadly stands and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cruz tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Deadly patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cruz trying to get back to his feet but Deadly is in full control for now.
Cruz trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.

Deadly tightening his grip on Cruz, looking for the choke.
Cruz controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Deadly struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cruz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cruz pushes Deadly off looking to stand but Deadly dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deadly stalling.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Deadly is controlling well.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Xristian Deadly has got the better of the ground game so far.
Deadly seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Deadly lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Deadly uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.

Deadly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Deadly has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Deadly is looking to break free of the clinch but Cruz has double underhooks.

Cruz breaks the clinch.
Deadly tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.

That's four 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.
Deadly uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Deadly might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Deadly just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Deadly is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Deadly avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz works over Deadly's head and body with a nice combination.
Deadly takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A lazy left from Deadly finds it's target.
Cruz drops his hands momentarily and Deadly takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Xristian Deadly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Deadly closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cruz to the mat! Cruz manages to get full guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Deadly postures up.
Deadly stops Cruz from standing up.
Deadly slips nicely into half guard.

Deadly is working for a submission of some sort.
Kaleo Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz tries to roll over but Deadly keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xristian Deadly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think 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 29:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!