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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by 50 cent P.I.M.P. Monroe has chosen A Country Boy Can Survive as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
24
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0 |
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175 cm
23
182 lbs
8 - 3 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jon Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Monroe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Monroe darts in and clinches Santa Cruz up against the cage.
Monroe tries to circle away but Santa Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Santa Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Santa Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe instigates a clinch.
Santa Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Monroe's efforts to push away.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Monroe as Santa Cruz tries to tie him up.
Santa Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Monroe as Santa Cruz tries to tie him up.
Santa Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Santa Cruz just misses with a elbow thrown towards Monroe's brow.
Santa Cruz leaning against his opponent.
Santa Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by Monroe.
Monroe is trying to break the clinch but Santa Cruz is controlling him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz is trying to pull guard but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch but Santa Cruz keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Monroe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santa Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Monroe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Monroe throws a body punch but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Monroe throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Santa Cruz dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Monroe. That did some damage!
Nice body kick from Santa Cruz.
Jon Monroe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Monroe moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Santa Cruz jabs Monroe to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santa Cruz manages to avoid it.
Santa Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Monroe loads up on a big right hand but Santa Cruz slips the punch.
Santa Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Monroe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Santa Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking kick to the body. Monroe takes a step back to recover.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santa Cruz moves away.
Monroe throws a lazy right hand but Santa Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Monroe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Monroe misses with a looping right.
Santa Cruz throws a body kick that misses
and Monroe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Monroe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick but Monroe moves out of range.
Monroe blocks a jab.
Santa Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Monroe pushes him off.
Nice defenses there by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab lands there for Santa Cruz.
Monroe has Santa Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Monroe is trying to push Santa Cruz away but Santa Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Santa Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Santa Cruz prevents Monroe from breaking the clinch.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Santa Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Santa Cruz - that will leave a mark!
Monroe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santa Cruz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monroe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Santa Cruz is trying to pull guard but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Monroe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Monroe takes a shot to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz is looking to control Monroe's arms but Monroe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santa Cruz has his back to the cage.
Santa Cruz breaks the clinch.
Santa Cruz throws a wild body kick that Monroe sees coming a mile off.
Santa Cruz looks to clinch
and Monroe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santa Cruz tries to land knees in the clinch but Monroe avoids the damage to the body.
Santa Cruz slows down the pace here.
Monroe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Monroe closes the distance and clinches.
Monroe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Santa Cruz misses with a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santa Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Santa Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Monroe moves into the clinch.
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 Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Santa Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Monroe moves into the clinch successfully.
Monroe dodges an elbow strike from Santa Cruz.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santa Cruz has Monroe pressed against the cage, preventing Monroe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santa Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Monroe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick, looking for Monroe's leg but Monroe calmly moves out of range.
Santa Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Monroe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santa Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Monroe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Santa Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santa Cruz.
Monroe tries to circle away but Santa Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Monroe is trying to force a seperation but Santa Cruz has the dominant position.
Santa Cruz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Monroe is defending well for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe tries to circle away but Santa Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Monroe is trying to break free.
Santa Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Monroe's efforts to push away.
Santa Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz has Monroe pressed against the cage, preventing Monroe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Monroe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Monroe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Monroe misses with a double jab.
Santa Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monroe throws out the jab.
Santa Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Santa Cruz staying out of range there.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
A frustrated look appears on Monroe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Santa Cruz.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Monroe is looking to break free of the clinch but Santa Cruz has double underhooks.
Monroe is trying to break the clinch but Santa Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Santa Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jon Monroe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Monroe breaks from the clinch.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Monroe - just one landing.
The crowd cheers as Monroe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santa Cruz doesn't seem phased though.
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!
A shot to the liver by Santa Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Monroe moves out of range of the body kick.
Monroe forces Santa Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
Monroe wants to get back to striking at distance but Santa Cruz won't allow it.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Monroe can't break the clinch.
Monroe stops a takedown attempt from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Monroe jabs at Santa Cruz's body.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santa Cruz moves away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe's corner calls for a 1-2. Monroe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Monroe lands with an overhand left.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Santa Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good shot there by Monroe.
Monroe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Santa Cruz at a distance.
Santa Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santa Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jon Monroe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Santa Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Monroe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santa Cruz somewhat.
A punch combination from Santa Cruz misses.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Monroe blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Monroe. Monroe maintains the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe blocks an uppercut.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Monroe manages to break the clinch.
Monroe gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Santa Cruz is looking to wear down Monroe with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santa Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
Monroe clinches up against the cage.
Monroe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santa Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Monroe blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz looks to land a body kick but Monroe moved away.
Jab from Monroe.
Monroe scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santa Cruz slips a jab from Monroe.
Santa Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Monroe blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Monroe moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jon Monroe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Monroe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Monroe misses.
Rafael Santa Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Monroe takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Monroe lands with a nice body punch.
Monroe clinches up against the cage.
Santa Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Santa Cruz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Monroe is defending well for now.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Monroe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santa Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by Monroe.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Monroe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monroe blocks a body shot from Santa Cruz.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe is trying to break the clinch but Santa Cruz is controlling him.
Monroe takes a shot to the head.
Monroe manages to break the clinch.
Santa Cruz has Monroe up against the cage in a clinch.
Monroe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monroe misses with a wild combination.
Monroe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santa Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Santa Cruz landing knees to the body.
Santa Cruz working aggressively here.
Monroe manages to break the clinch.
Monroe missing with a left hand there. Santa Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Monroe jabs at Santa Cruz's body.
Monroe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Monroe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws the kick towards the body but Monroe avoids it.
Santa Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Monroe defends it well.
Monroe regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz stops Monroe from standing up.
Santa Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz passes Monroe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Santa Cruz moves nicely into side control.
Santa Cruz controls the position.
Santa Cruz 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.
Santa Cruz tries for a kimura but Monroe is defending well.
Monroe is being controlled here.
Santa Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Monroe, who protects the arm well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Santa Cruz looking to control but instead Monroe has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Santa Cruz prevents Monroe from standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Santa Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, [WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry), into his post fight interview.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
85% |
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