PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virgil Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Welcome to the Jungle. Virgil Hunter will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cruz
vs
Hunter

157 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joey Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Virgil Hunter!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hunter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Cruz misses

and Hunter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hunter.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.

Cruz gets the takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hunter is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hunter keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz tries to stand and escape but Hunter is controlling the position.
Hunter is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz throwing shots but Hunter is blocking nicely.
Hunter is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hunter avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cruz tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Hunter blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Hunter dodges it nicely.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hunter is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Hunter dodges it nicely.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hunter defending well though.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Hunter's head.
Hunter is trying to control but can't.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hunter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hunter.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Hunter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunter pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hunter 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Hunter's brow.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Hunter is pulling down on Cruz's head. It's preventing any offense from Cruz, at least for the moment.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hunter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cruz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
and Hunter counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!

Hunter tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Hunter wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
Hunter scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hunter is adopting a defensive guard.

Hunter has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Hunter is breathing heavily.
Hunter has a closed guard, preventing Cruz from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz gets to his feet - Hunter follows without any prompting.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.

Cruz clinches up against the cage.
Hunter wants a takedown.
Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The referee calls for Cruz to work.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hunter's head.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hunter counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hunter controlling from the top position.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Hunter isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Hunter from controlling successfully.
Hunter prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Virgil Hunter hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hunter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hunter has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hunter slows the pace down.
Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hunter has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Hunter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cruz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Hunter tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Joey Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz bucks up and tries to throw Hunter off but instead Hunter has got his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joey Cruz will probably get the nod.
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!

Hunter pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.

Hunter has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cruz uses from the top position.
Hunter has momentary wrist control but Cruz slips an elbow through the middle.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Hunter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hunter is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hunter has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Hunter won't let him.
Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hunter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Hunter pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cruz gets to his feet - Hunter follows without any prompting.
Hunter misses with a takedown attempt - Cruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hunter gets a double leg takedown into Cruz's guard.
Hunter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Cruz wants to stand but Hunter is controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hunter is pushing down on Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Hunter has managed to sneak the leg through.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hunter in particular looking to stall.
Hunter trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Hunter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz trying to hold on to Hunter's head to control him but Hunter postures up.
Hunter working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hunter sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hunter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hunter's back!
Cruz is punishing Hunter with some ground and pound.
The referee is taking a good look at Hunter as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Cruz!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing with punches from the back.
Cruz is striking from the back but Hunter escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
It looks like Cruz is going to stand back up.
Hunter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Virgil Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz is nestled in close to Hunter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz wants to stand up but Hunter manages to regain full guard.
Joey Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Hunter had control of the position.

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 Joey Cruz.
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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Cruz!