PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Santiago Rodriguez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cruz
vs
Rodriguez

157 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

172 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santiago Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Cruz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodriguez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Cruz misses
and Rodriguez counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Rodriguez.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Rodriguez circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz tries to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez, pushing him back against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Cruz misses
and Rodriguez counters with a thumping low kick.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.
Cruz dives in and grabs Rodriguez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Joey Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a right hand that Rodriguez ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodriguez also avoids with ease.
Cruz misses with a hook. Rodriguez ducked under it nicely.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz wants to clinch.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz thows a leg kick but Rodriguez checks it
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Cruz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez counters with an outside leg kick.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to throw a body kick
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Rodriguez avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a lazy body kick
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz wants to clinch.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz moves to clinch but Rodriguez breaks away
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Rodriguez avoids it well.
Cruz throws a lazy body kick
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
A lazy body kick from Cruz
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Cruz.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz closes the distance but Rodriguez moves to the side
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joey Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and Rodriguez counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with a nice leg kick.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cruz wants to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Rodriguez counters with an inside leg kick.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey 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. This is the final round!

Cruz darts in trying to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with an inside leg kick.
Rodriguez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a nice leg kick.
Cruz moves to clinch but Rodriguez breaks away
and Rodriguez counters with an inside leg kick.
Santiago Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Cruz throws a body kick that misses
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Rodriguez counters with a nice leg kick.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a nice leg kick.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with an inside leg kick.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Rodriguez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz darts in trying to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz throws a lazy body kick
and Rodriguez counters with a thumping low kick.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Santiago Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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