PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter Thompson had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Hunter Thompson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Thompson
vs
Cruz

190 cm
25
202 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

175 cm
23
186 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hunter Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pedro Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cruz looks gassed!
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Thompson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thompson landing knees to the head.
Thompson working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Thompson lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
Thompson landing knees to the head.

Cruz is rocked!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Thompson lands a damaging elbow.
Thompson lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Thompson lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
Thompson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thompson lands a knee to the body.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thompson.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cruz jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hunter Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice elbow from Thompson.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
Pedro Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thompson. Thompson obviously looking to wear him down.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Thompson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thompson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
Thompson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thompson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Cruz jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thompson lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Thompson counters with a two punch combo.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses.

Cruz scores a takedown into full mount!

Cruz gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Thompson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thompson scores with a knee to the head.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thompson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thompson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Thompson lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Cruz jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thompson throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
Thompson fakes the leg kick and cracks Cruz in the body.
Cruz fails with the takedown
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Hunter Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Thompson drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Thompson scores with a knee to the head.
A shot in the inside from Thompson.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.

Thompson clinches.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Thompson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thompson prevents the takedown attempt.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Thompson lands a knee to the head.
Thompson lands a knee to the body.
Cruz tries to work over Thompson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thompson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thompson lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thompson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thompson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cruz trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Thompson blocks nicely.
Thompson seems keen to control Cruz's posture.

Thompson 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Thompson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Thompson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thompson.
Thompson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thompson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thompson lands a knee to the head.
Thompson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cruz or not.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Thompson scores with a knee to the head.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but Cruz blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Hunter Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Cruz.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thompson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thompson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thompson landing knees to the head.
Nice body punch from Thompson.
Thompson lands a damaging elbow.
Thompson lands a nice elbow.
Thompson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thompson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thompson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thompson lands a knee to the head.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Thompson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thompson tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cruz is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands with a kick to the temple. Cruz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thompson lands a high kick!
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thompson counters with a head kick. That will keep Cruz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Thompson clinches.
Cruz jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hunter Thompson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson lands an elbow inside.
Thompson with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thompson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thompson throws a head punch that misses.
Thompson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thompson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thompson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thompson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cruz!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Thompson moves out of range easily.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thompson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.
Thompson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thompson lands a head kick. Cruz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cruz fails with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.
Thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Thompson duly obliges.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Thompson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Nice elbow from Thompson.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Thompson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hunter Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Cruz.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thompson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thompson counters with a good, hard body kick but Cruz shrugs it off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thompson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thompson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Thompson landing knees to the head.
Thompson landing knees to the head.
Thompson scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz tightens his grip and picks Thompson up, before dumping him to the ground. Thompson manages to land in guard.
Thompson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thompson controlling the position.
Thompson is looking to sweep but instead, Cruz has passed into half guard.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thompson defending well though.
Thompson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Thompson dodges it nicely.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thompson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a takedown
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.
Thompson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Thompson has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thompson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thompson lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thompson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thompson lands a nice knee to the body.
Thompson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick from Thompson lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
Thompson landing knees to the body.
Thompson connects with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Thompson.
Thompson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
Thompson lands a front kick.
Hunter Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thompson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thompson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Thompson!