PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karim Chamakh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel de la Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chamakh's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Linda Sundblad - To All My Girls. Joel de la Cruz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Chamakh
vs
de la Cruz

168 cm
19
185 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
196 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

KAISER
Vandal Fight Boutique

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karim Chamakh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joel de la Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chamakh shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches de la Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Chamakh staying calm.
You can see the frustration on de la Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
de la Cruz is being controlled here.
de la Cruz is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chamakh working away.
de la Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Chamakh happy to just control the position for now.

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.
Chamakh seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down de la Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
de la Cruz struggling a bit here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
de la Cruz has his takedown stuffed

so Chamakh counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de la Cruz working a defensive guard but Chamakh manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de la Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Chamakh takes a little break here. de la Cruz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chamakh gets to mount! de la Cruz was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Chamakh with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karim Chamakh dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A jab from de la Cruz misses.

Chamakh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. de la Cruz sprawls well initially but Chamakh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Chamakh is taking a breather. de la Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Karim Chamakh.
de la Cruz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Karim Chamakh has been cut.

Chamakh scores a takedown into full mount!
Chamakh sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
de la Cruz tries to hold on but Chamakh postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de la Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
de la Cruz is squirming around, avoiding Chamakh's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chamakh with a couple of short strikes.
Chamakh takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Chamakh has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of de la Cruz's face.
Chamakh controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de la Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Chamakh controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karim Chamakh dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Karim Chamakh's cut.
That's time! Chamakh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Chamakh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

de la Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de la Cruz has a hand on Chamakh's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Chamakh takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chamakh raining down shots from the mount!
Chamakh looking to control and managing it successfully.
de la Cruz wants to control but Chamakh is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Chamakh controlling the pace for now.
Karim Chamakh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
de la Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Chamakh has a good base and remains in mount.
Karim Chamakh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chamakh controlling from mount.
de la Cruz tries to lock up and control but Chamakh gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Chamakh looking to control and managing it successfully.

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.
Chamakh prevents de la Cruz from getting the reversal.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chamakh controlling his opponent.
Joel de la Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Karim Chamakh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chamakh, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karim Chamakh!