PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Hampson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cruz
vs
Hampson

188 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Marcus Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jimmy Hampson!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz clinches up with Hampson and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz is trying to drag Hampson to the mat but Hampson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hampson prevents it.
Cruz is trying to drag Hampson to the mat but Hampson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hampson.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hampson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz manages to pull guard.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hampson trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Hampson is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
Hampson trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz content just to control the position here.
Hampson is squirming around, avoiding Cruz's attempts to control the action.
Hampson tries to lock up and control but Cruz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hampson is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz tries to control but Hampson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a head shot.
Hampson is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hampson looks a forlorn figure.
Cruz manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hampson to take his back!
Hampson tries to break free.

Cruz is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hampson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hampson for a finish.

Hampson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Cruz gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hampson's body.
Cruz trying to control momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hampson tries to break free.
Cruz is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hampson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hampson shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hampson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hampson keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Hampson is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Hampson keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marcus Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Hampson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Hampson in a clinch.
Hampson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hampson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cruz is looking for a takedown.

Hampson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hampson as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz closes the distance but Hampson moves to the side
and Hampson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cruz is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hampson dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on Hampson's head and hops out.
Hampson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hampson gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Hampson sprawls well.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hampson quickly recovers to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hampson wants to get back to full guard.
Hampson is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.

Cruz decides to return to a standing position.
Hampson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Cruz stalls from top position.

Cruz stands up and beckons Hampson to his feet.
Hampson fails with a takedown attempt.

Cruz has managed to clinch.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hampson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hampson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hampson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hampson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz keeping his opponent close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Cruz dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz cracks Hampson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hampson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
Hampson is concentrating on defense, preventing Cruz from advancing position.
Hampson is looking to improve his position.
Cruz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hampson tries to control Cruz's body but Cruz pushes him off. Hampson squirms to his side and now Cruz has his back!
Cruz controlling the position well here. Hampson rolled but Cruz kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Hampson prevents Cruz from getting a body triangle.
Hampson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Hampson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hampson showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a punch to the head.
A lull in the action here.

Cruz is persistently looking for the submission but Hampson is defending it well.

Hampson showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Cruz is trying to stick to Hampson's back but Hampson is turning into Cruz. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cruz's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hampson.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hampson trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

Cruz pushes Hampson off and gets back to his feet.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hampson defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hampson's half guard.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Marcus Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hampson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Jimmy Hampson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
Cruz controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Cruz!