PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Grabowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grabowski has chosen Roar as his entrance music. Jorge Cruz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cruz
vs
Grabowski

215 cm
31
228 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

195 cm
25
281 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorge Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damian Grabowski!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grabowski shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cruz is trying to stand back up but Grabowski is controlling him
Grabowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.
Cruz tries to kick Grabowski off but Grabowski keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cruz trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Grabowski lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz pushes Grabowski off looking to stand but Grabowski dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Grabowski.

Cruz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Grabowski lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grabowski tries for a takedown. No joy.
Grabowski has Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Grabowski throws a head punch that misses.

Grabowski is trying to trip Cruz. He has hold of a leg but Cruz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Grabowski persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Grabowski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grabowski off to one side.
Jorge Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Grabowski.
Grabowski throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Damian Grabowski has been cut.
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!
Grabowski thows a body shot but no joy.
Grabowski misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Grabowski takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the body from Grabowski misses
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grabowski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Grabowski moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruz misses the jab.
Jorge Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grabowski misses the shot to the body.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Grabowski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Grabowski gets a double leg takedown into Cruz's guard.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Grabowski is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grabowski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grabowski.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Grabowski manages to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grabowski landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Grabowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Grabowski lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Grabowski winds up and cracks Cruz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grabowski drops an elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grabowski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Cruz pushes Grabowski off and gets back to his feet.
Grabowski slips a straight right by Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damian Grabowski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damian Grabowski's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Grabowski connects with a body shot that sends Cruz's belly button to the back.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grabowski.
Grabowski just misses with a punch to the body.
Grabowski thows a body shot but no joy.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grabowski.
Grabowski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grabowski off to one side.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grabowski blocks a jab.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Grabowski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grabowski lands a lovely overhand right.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Grabowski's shoulder, as Grabowski tries to avoid the shot.
Grabowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grabowski has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grabowski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grabowski.
Jorge Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Grabowski.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses

and Grabowski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cruz wants to stand up but Grabowski is controlling him.
Grabowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grabowski postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz wants to stand up but Grabowski is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grabowski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Grabowski is controlling him.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grabowski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grabowski prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Grabowski with a nice head shot there.
Grabowski prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grabowski connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Grabowski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Grabowski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Grabowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grabowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Grabowski stops Cruz from standing up.
Grabowski is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Grabowski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Grabowski is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Grabowski throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz wants to stand but Grabowski is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grabowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grabowski cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Grabowski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz has momentary wrist control but Grabowski slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Grabowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damian Grabowski's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Grabowski scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jorge Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Grabowski.
Grabowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Grabowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Grabowski blocks a jab.
Grabowski is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cruz rather than just go for the knockout.
Grabowski takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grabowski. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.

Grabowski feints and as Cruz raises his hands in defense, Grabowski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz wants to stand up but Grabowski is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grabowski thows a big elbow that misses.

Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grabowski feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Grabowski then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grabowski connects with a body shot.
Grabowski misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Grabowski counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grabowski. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grabowski has a takedown stuffed.
Grabowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Grabowski takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grabowski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grabowski off to one side.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grabowski counters with a left to the body.
Grabowski lands a body shot.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Grabowski moved out of range.
Grabowski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Grabowski.
Grabowski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Grabowski counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cruz misses with a hook
letting Grabowski counter with a right hand.
Grabowski scores with a nice strike.
Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Cruz throws a jab when Grabowski was well out of range.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grabowski.
Grabowski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grabowski's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cruz under the eye.
Grabowski lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruz throws the left hand but Grabowski avoids the punch easily.
Jorge Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Grabowski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grabowski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grabowski takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Grabowski closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Grabowski pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jorge Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Grabowski.
Grabowski misses with a jab to the body
and Cruz counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz misses with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grabowski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grabowski.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jorge Cruz.
I think Grabowski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Grabowski!