PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Death Row (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benny Cruz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Death Row's chin.

Cruz
vs
Row

190 cm
23
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benny Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Death Row!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Steve Montenegro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Row's half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cruz slips a nice elbow through Row's hands, connecting with Row's forehead.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Row to regain full guard.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Row.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Row has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Cruz is looking to get to half guard.
Row punishing his opponent with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Row raining down shots from the mount!
Row throwing strikes here but Cruz is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Row avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Cruz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Row is landing with some decent strikes but Cruz is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cruz tries to hold on but Row postures up.
Row throws some wild stikes that Cruz manages to avoid easily.

Row looking to secure an arm triangle but Cruz defends it well.
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!
Row lands a big shot there that rocks Cruz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Row breaks from Cruz's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Row has control of Cruz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cruz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Row raining down shots from the mount!

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cruz tries to get out of the position.
Row lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
A nice elbow there by Row.
Row thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Row working for a submission but Cruz is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Row lands with some strikes.
Row lands a nice shot to the head.
Row avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Row punishing his opponent with strikes.
Row looking to finish with strikes here!
Row lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Row pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Row tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Row throws some wild stikes that Cruz manages to avoid easily.
Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Row thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.
Cruz is looking to control Row's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Cruz scores with a few weak punches.
Row wants to free his trapped foot but Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Row takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Row works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Death Row dominated that round.
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.

Cruz dodges the punch combination from Row.

Row closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cruz did well to prevent Row getting side control.
Row throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Row wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
Row thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Row throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Row seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Row not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Row not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Row moves nicely into side control.
Row working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Row crashes against the mat.
Cruz avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Row.
Row has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz taking punishment in the form of punches.
Row landing a few strikes.
Row throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Row stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Row misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Row is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz stands up over Row, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Row is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Row prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Cruz controlling the position well.
Row thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Row moves into full mount! Cruz won't be happy about that!
Row in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Row unloading with bombs!
Cruz tries to lock up and control but Row gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Row punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Row on the ground.
Row is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Oh Cruz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Oooh a big shot lands for Row! Cruz is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Death Row!
After winning the bout, Death Row thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.