PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denton Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lebron James (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
James

172 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Denton Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lebron James!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Denton Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz looks to clinch
and James makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
James avoids the elbow strike from Cruz, against the cage.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James is trying to pull guard but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Denton Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebron James.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz darts in trying to clinch

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.

James pulls Cruz into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cruz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.

James scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Cruz lands a high kick!
Cruz tries to clinch up
and James counters with a thumping low kick.
Cruz moves to clinch but James breaks away
and James counters with a nice body shot.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Cruz tries to clinch up

and James counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James is looking to take this one to the mat.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cruz trying to land knees to the body.

James manages to break the clinch.

James pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cruz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James looks winded!
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cruz throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The referee calls for James to work.
Cruz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cruz up against the cage.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to pull guard but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
James is trying to stall.
Cruz lands a knee to the body.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cruz throws an elbow but it misses.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James is looking for a takedown.
Cruz lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a knee strike.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
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 lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
James stalling the fight.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James effectively controlling the action here.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denton Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz throws a head kick that misses.

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.

James jumps into guard, dragging Cruz to the mat.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James has Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
James wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet.
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Cruz throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
Nice body kick from Cruz.

Cruz lands a big head kick that sends James tumbling to the mat! Cruz takes a step backwards and waves James back to his feet - he wants the finish!

James is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
James is still on wobbly legs! Can Cruz finish him?
James is keeping his hands low and just asking to be knocked out. Cruz Raises his leg and lands a stunning axe kick! James is out cold, face down on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Denton Cruz!