PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roco de Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

de Cruz
vs
Foster

185 cm
26
180 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

180 cm
27
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 10 - 7 - 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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Foster!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foster throws a head kick that misses.
de Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Foster.
Foster walks into a jab.

It looks like James Foster has been cut.
Nice defenses there by Foster.
de Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
de Cruz misses the shot to the body.
de Cruz misses with a looping right.
A head kick misses from Foster.
Foster throws out a leg kick but de Cruz moves out of range and Foster only half commits.
Foster misses with a body kick.
de Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Foster is just out of range.
de Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Foster lands with a cross.
A slow jab from de Cruz misses its intended target.
Foster wants to slow de Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
de Cruz lands a body shot.
de Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Foster can pounce on him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Foster does no damage.
de Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
de Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from de Cruz misses.
de Cruz throws a jab when Foster was well out of range.
de Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster misses with a few strikes there.
Foster throws a head kick but de Cruz moves out of range.
de Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Foster misses.
Foster throws a combination. de Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
de Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Foster takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and de Cruz moves out of range easily.
de Cruz scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab from de Cruz misses.
de Cruz moves out of range of the leg kick from Foster.
de Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Foster moves away.
de Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Foster was well out of range. Poor timing from de Cruz.
de Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
de Cruz avoids a kick to the body.
de Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Foster misses with a head kick.
Foster takes a shot to the body in his stride.
de Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Foster throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from de Cruz misses.
Foster tries a head kick but it misses.
Foster throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
de Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
de Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps Foster's head back.
A lazy left from de Cruz finds it's target.
de Cruz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Foster looks gassed!
de Cruz lands with a good body shot.
de Cruz misses with a straight left.
de Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Foster.
Foster bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
de Cruz looks to land a left hand but Foster moved out of range nicely.
Foster slips a jab from de Cruz.
de Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
de Cruz connects with a right hand. Foster shakes it off.
de Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
de Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
de Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
de Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Foster manages to avoid it.
Foster with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
de Cruz tests Foster's chin there with a solid looking shot.
de Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Foster moves away and avoids it.
Foster throws a head kick but de Cruz moves out of range.
de Cruz moves out of range as Foster throws a body kick.
Roco de Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foster throws a low kick but de Cruz moves out of range easily.
de Cruz misses with a looping left.
de Cruz looks to land a right hand but Foster moved out of range.
Foster staying out of range there.
Foster misses with a head kick.
Foster thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on de Cruz if he has to take too many more of those.
de Cruz scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Foster ducks under a wild hook from de Cruz.
de Cruz throws a hook but Foster blocks it.
de Cruz looks to land a right hand but Foster moved out of range.
Foster defending well as de Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
de Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Foster has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Foster there as he acknowledges the shot.
A head kick misses from Foster.
Foster misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
de Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
de Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Foster throws a head kick that misses.
de Cruz throws the left hand but Foster avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
de Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Foster displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as de Cruz throws out the jab.
de Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Foster ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
de Cruz throws a right and a left that Foster avoids nicely.
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 Foster's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A left lands for Foster.
de Cruz's corner calls for a 1-2. de Cruz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Foster throws a head kick but de Cruz moves out of range.
de Cruz works Foster's body with a nice hook.
de Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Foster displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as de Cruz throws out the jab.
Foster takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
de Cruz misses with a looping right.
Foster is on the wrong end of a nice combination from de Cruz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
de Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
de Cruz throws out a loose jab but Foster uses good head movement to avoid it.
de Cruz misses the shot to the body.
de Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Foster is looking to chop away at de Cruz's legs.
Roco de Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
de Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Foster.
Foster is breathing heavily.
Foster takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That has opened up James Foster's cut even more.
de Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Foster shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Foster.
Foster lands a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from de Cruz. Foster does a little dance to reset his feet.
Foster swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
de Cruz throws a shot to the body.
de Cruz scores with a jab to the head.
Foster misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from de Cruz misses.
Foster takes one to the chin there.
de Cruz misses with a looping left.
de Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James Foster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Foster scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
de Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Foster ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
de Cruz connects with a jab.
A head kick misses from Foster.
Foster misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Foster lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from de Cruz misses.
de Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Foster is just out of range.
de Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Foster moves away.
Foster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Foster misses with an uppercut.
de Cruz misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Foster.
de Cruz throws a jab when Foster was well out of range.
de Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Foster.
Foster is looking to slow de Cruz down with leg kicks.
de Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Foster lands with a hook. de Cruz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
de Cruz clobbers Foster with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A swing and a miss from de Cruz.
de Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster cracks de Cruz with an open hand slap.
Foster walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
de Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
de Cruz looks to land a left hand but Foster moved out of range nicely.
Foster blocks a jab.
de Cruz throws a hook to the side of Foster's head but Foster sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
de Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Foster slips the punch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Foster.
Foster displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as de Cruz throws out the jab.
Foster staying out of range there.
de Cruz misses with a body shot.
Foster tries a head kick but it misses.
Foster misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
de Cruz looks to land a combination but Foster avoids it well.
de Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
de Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Foster scores with a spinning back kick!
A slapping body kick lands there for Foster.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster connects with a crisp jab.
Foster throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Foster connects with a looping right hand.
Foster looks for the body kick but de Cruz saw that one coming.
Foster scores with a nice strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foster is looking to slow de Cruz down with leg kicks.
Foster cracks de Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
de Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
de Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
de Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Foster wants to slow de Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Foster lands a nice looking body kick.
Foster throws a nice inside leg kick.
Foster tries to bum rush de Cruz with a series of wild strikes but de Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Foster dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Foster lands the left hand.
de Cruz blocks a head kick by Foster.
A good leg kick by Foster.
de Cruz swings away with a body shot that misses
and Foster counters with a series of strikes. de Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Foster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Foster's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Foster cracks the inside of de Cruz's front leg.
de Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Foster scores with a head kick.
Foster throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from de Cruz misses the target.
Foster throws a head kick that misses.
Foster defending well as de Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
de Cruz misses with an uppercut.
A shot to the body from de Cruz misses
and Foster counters with an outside leg kick.
Foster moves out of range of the strikes.
Foster bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Foster blocks a jab.
Foster throws a head kick but de Cruz moves out of range.
Foster tried to score with a low kick but de Cruz checks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
de Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Foster tries to work over de Cruz's front leg with a kick but de Cruz checks it.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and de Cruz moves out of range easily.
Foster takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
de Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and de Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A chopping leg kick lands by Foster.
de Cruz moves out of range as Foster throws a body kick.
Foster ducks under a wild hook from de Cruz.
de Cruz misses the jab.
Foster throws a head kick but de Cruz moves out of range.
Foster moves out of range as de Cruz strikes.
Foster misses with a series of wild punches.
Foster dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on de Cruz. That did some damage!
Foster blocks a jab.
de Cruz walks into a straight right hand from Foster.
de Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Foster defending well as de Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Foster throws a nice outside leg kick.
Foster steps to the side to avoid the strikes from de Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but de Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Foster.
Foster throws a head kick that misses.
de Cruz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
de Cruz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
de Cruz throws a right hand that Foster ducks under and follows up with a left that Foster also avoids with ease.
de Cruz will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Foster tries a head kick but it misses.
Foster throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
de Cruz looks to throw the jab but Foster is out of range.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and de Cruz moves out of range easily.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and de Cruz moves out of range easily.
Foster blocks a jab.
de Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Foster moves away.
Nice cross by de Cruz.
Foster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
de Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Foster's shoulder, as Foster tries to avoid the shot.
A left and a right from Foster both land. Nice combination.
de Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. de Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A nice inside leg kick there by Foster. That's going to slow de Cruz down.
de Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Foster can pounce on him.
Foster scores with a push kick.
Foster lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
de Cruz takes one on the button.
Foster scores with a leg kick.
de Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Foster. Foster obviously looking to wear him down.
Foster throws a combination. de Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Foster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Foster throws a right and a left that de Cruz avoids nicely.
Foster feints and then cracks de Cruz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow de Cruz down.
de Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
de Cruz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Foster. That one must have hurt.
Foster scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
de Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Foster slips a straight right by de Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Foster scores with a four punch combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
de Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Foster was well out of range. Poor timing from de Cruz.
Foster thows a body kick. de Cruz tries to catch it but that hurt him.
de Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Foster slips the punch.
Good exchange - Foster coming out on top.
de Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice jab there from Foster.
Foster lands a jab to de Cruz's midsection.
Foster throws a sloppy head kick and de Cruz moves out of range easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Foster.
de Cruz tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Foster ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Foster lands with a right hand.
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
de Cruz throws a predictable looking body shot
and Foster counters with a series of strikes. de Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Foster throws a nice looking combination but de Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
de Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Foster.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Foster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Foster has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Foster!