PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benedict Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Sams has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Sams

193 cm
21
224 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
22
219 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benedict Cruz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Sams!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sams throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sams scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sams misses the jab.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cruz rushes Sams and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sams throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.
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!
Cruz punishes Sams's body with a nice straight punch.
Sams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sams misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Sams throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sams.
Sams connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Sams moves out of range.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sams avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sams on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
A jab from Cruz does it's job there.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Sams.
Sams looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Sams.
Matt Sams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sams misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sams circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Sams's head but Sams sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sams looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Cruz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sams throws a sloppy body shot
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Sams is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Sams.
Cruz cracks Sams with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A shot to the body from Sams misses
and Sams takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sams shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz tests Sams's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sams misses with a shot to the body
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Sams will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sams on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sams lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz slips a jab from Sams.
Sams avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Sams avoids the body shot from Cruz.
A swing and a miss from Sams.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sams throws out the jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Sams finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sams throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sams lands a two punch combo.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Sams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sams.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body. Sams takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sams.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Sams.
Sams slips under a jab from Cruz.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Sams to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Sams uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sams counters with a crisp right that sends Cruz to the canvas! Sams follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matt Sams!
Matt Sams is the new light heavyweight champion!