PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Katasonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katasonov's entrance music is In Extremo - Wind. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Cruz's choice of entrance music: Welcome to the Jungle. Kale Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Katasonov
vs
Cruz

175 cm
34
166 lbs
26 - 12 - 1

168 cm
32
163 lbs
28 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pavel Katasonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kale Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katasonov moves away from the strike by Cruz.
Cruz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Katasonovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

It looks like Pavel Katasonov has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Katasonov blocks a jab.
Katasonov takes a jab right on the kisser.

Katasonov is rocked!
Kale Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Katasonov stuffs the takedown.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Katasonov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Katasonov scores with a body shot.
Cruz swinging wildly here.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Katasonov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katasonov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Katasonov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cruz to the mat! Cruz manages to get full guard.
Katasonov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katasonov preventing the sweep.
Katasonov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cruz trying to control the position here.
Katasonov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Katasonov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katasonov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Katasonov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cruz reverses the position - he's now on top in Katasonov's guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Katasonov keeps moving.

Katasonov has an active guard here but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katasonov keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Cruz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Katasonov punching from the bottom.
Katasonov wants to get back to his feet.

Katasonov looking for submissions off his back.
Katasonov gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Katasonov keeps moving.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Katasonov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Katasonov has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Katasonov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Katasonov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pavel Katasonov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pavel Katasonov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Katasonov misses with a looping left.
Cruz misses with a double jab

and Katasonov counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz is trying to keep Katasonov in close.
Katasonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz looking to control but Katasonov passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.

Katasonov has gone for a leg lock! Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Katasonov's guard.
Katasonov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz is in close to Katasonov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cruz is working Katasonov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Katasonov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Katasonov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Katasonov wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Katasonov is looking for a triangle here but Cruz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katasonov keeps working.
Katasonov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katasonov keeps working.
Katasonov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cruz gets to mount! Katasonov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Katasonov working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kale Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pavel Katasonov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Katasonov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Kale Cruz has been cut.
Katasonov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Katasonov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Katasonov scores with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Katasonov.
Katasonov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz connects with the punch.
Katasonov connects with a body shot that sends Cruz's belly button to the back.
Katasonov thows a body shot but no joy.
Kale Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Katasonov.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Katasonov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katasonov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katasonov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Katasonov moves away and avoids it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Katasonov.
Katasonov throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Katasonov moves away and avoids it.
Katasonov lands with an overhand left.
Cruz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Katasonov.
Katasonov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Katasonov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A good leg kick by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pavel Katasonov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Katasonov moved out of range.
Cruz throws a head kick but Katasonov moves out of range.
Katasonov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Katasonov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Katasonov counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Katasonov to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Katasonov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Katasonov moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Katasonov.
Cruz thows a leg kick but Katasonov checks it
and Katasonov counters with a thumping low kick.
Katasonov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cruz checks it well.
Katasonov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Katasonov there as he acknowledges the shot.

Cruz drops Katasonov with a nice combination! Cruz dives into Katasonov's guard, looking to finish!
Oh Katasonov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz wants to control from the top but Katasonov keeps moving.
Cruz arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Katasonov's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Kale Cruz!
Kale Cruz thanked the fans post fight for their support.