PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Delroy Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Cruz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 50 cent P.I.M.P. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Holmes
vs
Santa Cruz

180 cm
26
184 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

180 cm
27
175 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Granite chin

KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Delroy Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz lands a head kick!

It looks like Delroy Holmes has been cut.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Holmes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Holmes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz digs a good body shot into Holmes's ribs.
Santa Cruz dips to his left and cracks Holmes with an uppercut!
Santa Cruz throws out a leg kick but Holmes moves out of range and Santa Cruz only half commits.
A thudding body kick lands there by Santa Cruz!
Santa Cruz pushes Holmes away with a front kick.
Santa Cruz scores with a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Holmes's front leg but catches the back leg as Holmes tries to avoid it.
Santa Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santa Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Holmes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santa Cruz somewhat.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Santa Cruz has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz misses with a hook
and Holmes counters with a good low kick that Santa Cruz was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santa Cruz gets a double leg takedown into Holmes's guard.
Holmes is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at ELITE GYM 46 CAP that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Santa Cruz postures up in Holmes's guard and throws a big left but Holmes blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santa Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Holmes has wrist control.
Santa Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
Santa Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santa Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holmes is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santa Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Holmes is retaining full guard.
Holmes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santa Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santa Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Santa Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santa Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
Holmes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santa Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santa Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Santa Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Holmes has wrist control.
Santa Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holmes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holmes pulls Santa Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Santa Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Santa Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
Santa Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Holmes is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Santa Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Delroy Holmes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santa Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santa Cruz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Holmes's calf.
A head kick misses from Holmes.
Santa Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Holmes can pounce on him.
Santa Cruz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice body kick there by Holmes.
Santa Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
Santa Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holmes is fending him off so far but Santa Cruz persists. Nope, Holmes circles away and we're back to standing.
Santa Cruz lands a jab to the head.
Santa Cruz misses with a right hand
and Holmes counters with a good low kick that Santa Cruz was not able to check.
Holmes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Holmes checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes throws a sloppy head kick and Santa Cruz moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
No luck for Santa Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Holmes's front leg with a kick but Holmes checks it.
Santa Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Holmes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Santa Cruz.
Holmes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holmes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick from Holmes misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santa Cruz. That's going to slow Holmes down.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santa Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Delroy Holmes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holmes tries to clinch but Santa Cruz is having none of it.
Santa Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Santa Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. Holmes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range.

Holmes drives through and clinches with Santa Cruz against the cage.
Santa Cruz is trying to stall.
Santa Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
Santa Cruz has Holmes pushed against the cage.
Holmes missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holmes.
Santa Cruz lands a right hand.
Santa Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Santa Cruz pushes Holmes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santa Cruz avoids it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Santa Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Holmes manages to break the clinch.

Holmes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santa Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Holmes is retaining full guard.
Holmes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Santa Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Delroy Holmes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Holmes tries to sprawl but Santa Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Santa Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Santa Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holmes defending well though.
Santa Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Santa Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Santa Cruz is working for a kimura but Holmes is defending it quite comfortably.
Santa Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throwing shots but Holmes is blocking nicely.
Santa Cruz thows a huge punch but Holmes dodges it nicely.
Santa Cruz wants to control but Holmes is keeping him busy.
Holmes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Santa Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.

Santa Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Holmes is just riding it out for now. Santa Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Holmes wants to improve his position but Santa Cruz is controlling well.
Delroy Holmes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Santa Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Santa Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santa Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Santa Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holmes sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santa Cruz with the ground and pound but Holmes uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Santa Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Holmes's guard.
Santa Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Santa Cruz in particular looking to stall.
Ground and pound from Santa Cruz.
Rafael Santa Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santa Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmes's head.
Santa Cruz is looking to advance position but Holmes won't allow it.
Santa Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmes's head.
Ground and pound from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throwing shots but Holmes is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santa Cruz is just content to waste time from the top position. Holmes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Santa Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
Santa Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Holmes working for a triangle but Santa Cruz defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Santa Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Rafael Santa Cruz made sure he mentioned DTK Designs (Laundry), along with how happy he was to win his fight.