PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ortiz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Psycho Realm Revoltion. Jesus Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Ortiz

175 cm
18
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
144 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesus Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz rushes Ortiz and presses him up against the cage.
Ortiz tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cruz drags the fight down to the ground.
Ortiz won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Ortiz pushes his legs off easily.

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
Ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Ortiz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz stops Cruz from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz looking to control.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ortiz is one step ahead there.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Ortiz tries to pass.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Ortiz controlling him for the moment.
Ortiz postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Ortiz throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ortiz lands a couple of digs.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Ortiz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortiz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ortiz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortiz throws a big elbow that misses.
Ortiz throws a big elbow that misses.
Ortiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ortiz connects with a couple of short punches.
Ortiz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ortiz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ortiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortiz.
Cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ortiz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortiz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortiz chips away with some ground and pound.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ortiz postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortiz.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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!
Ortiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortiz throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ortiz throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
Ortiz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ortiz preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Ortiz dominated that round.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Ortiz sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Ortiz counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Ortiz as Cruz shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Ortiz sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ortiz counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ortiz throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Ortiz.
Ortiz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ortiz landing knees to the head.
Ortiz misses with a knee to the head.
Ortiz misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz is trying to break free.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ortiz has him pressed against the cage.

Cruz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cruz tries to stand and escape but Ortiz is controlling the position.
Ortiz controlling the position well.
Cruz controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesus Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Ortiz sprawls well.

Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz wants to take a breather but Ortiz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz is trying to control. Ortiz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jesus Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.

Cruz instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
Ortiz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz throws a head kick but Ortiz moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Cruz.

Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cruz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Ortiz regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Cruz dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ortiz is positioning himself well to prevent Cruz advancing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cruz throws a head kick but Ortiz moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Ortiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Ortiz tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ortiz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Ortiz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cruz looking to stall.
Ortiz landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Ortiz.
Ortiz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ortiz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Ortiz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ortiz slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cruz rushes Ortiz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz landing knees to the head.
Ortiz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
Ortiz looking to throw knees to the head but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Ortiz avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Ortiz tries a knee to the head but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ortiz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Ortiz is controlling him.
Ortiz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ortiz keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ortiz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ortiz prevents it.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
Carlos Ortiz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Ortiz prevents the takedown attempt.
Ortiz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ortiz misses with a knee to the head.
Ortiz misses with a knee strike.
Ortiz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jesus Cruz.
I think 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Cruz!
During a confident post fight interview, Jesus Cruz thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.