PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between King James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joey Cruz has the eye of the tiger tonight.

James
vs
Cruz

200 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

157 cm
19
130 lbs
4 - 12 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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, King James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Joey Cruz!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

James instigates a clinch.
Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
James manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James 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 falls off balance throwing a combination

and James moves into the clinch.
James keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cruz's efforts to push away.
James is trying to break free.
James is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
James is looking for a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruz is trying to force a seperation but James has the dominant position.
Cruz misses with some punches.
James is trying to force a seperation but Cruz has the dominant position.
Cruz misses with some punches.
James wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
James is trying to break free.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
James wants a takedown.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James jumps guard.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
James has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz tries to break free but James pushes him back against the cage.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz wants to break free but James has control.
James is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cruz breaks the clinch.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

James jumps into guard, dragging Cruz to the mat.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by James!

James decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Joey Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz closes the distance looking to clinch

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cruz won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Cruz throws James to one side and escapes!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King James dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz being controlled against the cage.

James jumps guard.
James seems keen to control Cruz's posture.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cruz!
James throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Cruz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
James controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cruz is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Cruz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from James.

James is standing up, even though he is in mount.
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!
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

James takes the fight into the clinch.

James successfully pulls guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.

James is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
James wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

James kicks Cruz off and gets to his feet.

Cruz darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
James shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz blocks a head kick by James.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King James dominated that second round.
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. 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.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

James drags the fight down to the ground.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cruz misses with some punches.
Cruz prevents James from breaking the clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
James shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
King James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Joey Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.

James moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
James prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.

James breaks from the clinch.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Cruz throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and James counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and James counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
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!
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but James has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James looking for a takedown.
James prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
James shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

James moves into the clinch.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a head kick.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

Cruz clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.
James has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
King James has scored more points in the clinch so far.

James manages to break the clinch.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Joey Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

James darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
King James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.

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 King James.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King James!