PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Stryfe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen Welcome to the Jungle as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Nathan Stryfe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stryfe
vs
Cruz

178 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
163 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Stryfe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kale Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stryfe scores with a decent looking hook.
Horrible takedown by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Stryfe which made him look bad.
Stryfe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stryfe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stryfe as he jumps to the side.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Stryfe.

Cruz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cruz works over Stryfe with some ground and pound from guard.
Stryfe keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Stryfe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Stryfe has wrist control.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands a nice forearm strike.
Stryfe avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cruz.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Stryfe regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz is pressing down on Stryfe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stryfe is holding on for now.
Stryfe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stryfe tries to get out of the position.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz working Stryfe over with strikes.
Stryfe is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cruz throwing shots but Stryfe is blocking nicely.
Stryfe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stryfe's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz looks gassed!
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Stryfe is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cruz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Stryfe darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.

Stryfe manages to break the clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stryfe as he avoids it easily.
Nathan Stryfe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kale Cruz.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stryfe throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Kale Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cruz walks into a straight right hand from Stryfe.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Stryfe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Stryfe shows good takedown defense.
Cruz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

Cruz scores with a takedown into Stryfe's guard.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Stryfe's brow.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz trying to control but Stryfe is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz won't allow Stryfe to get back to his feet.
Stryfe keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz distracts Stryfe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stryfe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kale Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Stryfe, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Stryfe against the cage but Stryfe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stryfe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz misses with a takedown
and Stryfe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Stryfe circles away easily
and Stryfe counters with a stiff right hand.
Nathan Stryfe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kale Cruz.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stryfe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Stryfe circles away easily
and Stryfe counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stryfe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stryfe throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
A big left from Stryfe misses.
Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Cruz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Stryfe is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz trying to control but Stryfe is working from the bottom.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stryfe takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Stryfe taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
Cruz has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.

It looks like Nathan Stryfe has been cut.

Cruz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Stryfe is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Stryfe and Cruz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cruz landing strikes.
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!
Stryfe takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cruz cracks Stryfe with a big elbow.
Stryfe is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz lands some shots froms side control.
Cruz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stryfe down.
Cruz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Cruz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to score with some ground and pound. Stryfe controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cruz cracks Stryfe with a big right hand but Stryfe just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stryfe is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz scoring with punches from side control.

Stryfe is rocked!

Nathan Stryfe's cut is getting worse.
Stryfe is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cruz asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cruz scoring with punches and elbows.
Cruz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Nathan Stryfe's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stryfe sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kale Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz working the head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scoring with punches from side control.

Jeez, Nathan Stryfe's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Cruz trying to control the position but Stryfe is working away.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Nathan Stryfe's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kale Cruz!