PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Martin
vs
Cruz

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocky Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Martin throws a big shot that misses.
Martin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Martin keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz stops Martin from standing up.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Martin keeps moving.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martin keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Frank Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Martin tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Martin will be more careful next time no doubt.

Martin is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Martin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
Martin is breathing heavily.
Martin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cruz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cruz.
Oh Martin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Martin is retaining full guard.
Martin seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Martin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.
Cruz won't allow Martin to get back to his feet.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Martin is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Frank Cruz.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Martin enables Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Martin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Cruz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Cruz passes Martin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Martin with a poor takedown
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
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 is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martin is keeping the position for now.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Frank Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cruz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cruz lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz dives in and scores a takedown into Martin's guard.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Martin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Martin. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Rocky Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martin doesn't seem bothered though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Martin shoots and misses
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Martin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Cruz feints and as Martin raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cruz scores with a takedown into Martin's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Martin wants to get back to his feet but Cruz passes into half guard.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz moves into full mount! Martin won't be happy about that!
Cruz lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cruz landing strikes from the mount.
Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Cruz! Martin is hurt baaadly! Cruz is firing away with more strikes - Martin is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frank Cruz!