PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Charyak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charyak's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eminem-Won't Back Down. Jorge Cruz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Craig Charyak's chin.

Charyak
vs
Cruz

190 cm
32
258 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

215 cm
32
228 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Charyak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorge Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charyak will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Charyak slips under a jab.
Cruz jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Craig Charyak has been cut.
Craig Charyak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz cracks Charyak with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Charyak.
Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Charyak is out of range and Cruz settles back down.

Charyak drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cruz wants to stand up but Charyak is controlling him.
Charyak wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
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 preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Charyak trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Charyak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Charyak isn't so interested in that idea.
Charyak wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charyak trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Charyak is controlling him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Charyak tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Charyak tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Charyak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Charyak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Charyak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Charyak is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruz's half guard.

Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Charyak gets a clinch.
Charyak keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz tries to circle away but Charyak has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charyak is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Charyak drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cruz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Charyak eats them both and turns towards Cruz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Charyak fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Charyak.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Charyak will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Charyak shoots in but no luck this time.
Charyak is breathing heavily.
Charyak shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Charyak's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Cruz dives in looking to finish as Charyak flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Cruz's strikes! Cruz is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Charyak's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Charyak was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jorge Cruz!
A relieved looking Jorge Cruz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.