PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Sherbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by no shelter/ RAM. Damien Cruz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Sherbo
vs
Cruz

177 cm
26
162 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pavel Sherbo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damien Cruz!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherbo misses with a looping left.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Sherbo.
Sherbo misses with the combination.
Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Cruz blocks a jab.
Sherbo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sherbo misses with a looping right.
Sherbo throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Cruz counters by clinching up.
Sherbo working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sherbo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.

Cruz manages to pull guard.
Sherbo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cruz's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz working for a triangle but Sherbo defends it easily.

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sherbo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sherbo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sherbo throwing strikes but missing.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sherbo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz trying to control the position.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sherbo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sherbo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sherbo stands up and waves to Cruz to follow him.
Cruz slips under a jab from Sherbo.
Pavel Sherbo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sherbo throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.

Cruz clinches up with Sherbo and pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sherbo.
Sherbo wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.
Sherbo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
A shot in the inside from Sherbo.
A right hand to the body from Sherbo.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sherbo smiles and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Sherbo misses the target.
Pavel Sherbo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sherbo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Damien Cruz has been cut.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sherbo lands a right hook to the body.
Sherbo misses with a low kick.
Sherbo cracks Cruz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A jab lands there for Sherbo.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Sherbo circles away.

Sherbo drops Cruz with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Cruz looks back up at him and smiles so Sherbo waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Cruz is rocked!
Sherbo lands with a nice body punch.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Sherbo finish him?
Sherbo connects with a body shot.
Cruz looks winded!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sherbo lands an uppercut, right on the button! Cruz tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Pavel Sherbo!
After winning the bout, Pavel Sherbo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.