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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oberyn Martell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Santa Cruz's choice of entrance music: 50 cent P.I.M.P. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 184 cm
27
183 lbs
11 - 4 - 0 |
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180 cm
28
175 lbs
12 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oberyn Martell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz is looking to land body kicks.
Santa Cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Santa Cruz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Martell checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Santa Cruz misses
and Martell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Santa Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Martell.
Martell throws a head punch that misses.
Santa Cruz is trying to stall.
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.
Santa Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martell avoids the head kick by Santa Cruz.
Martell checks a low kick from Santa Cruz.
Martell misses with the body kick
and Santa Cruz counters with an inside leg kick.
Martell checks the leg kick nicely there.
Santa Cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Santa Cruz lands a head kick. Martell smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santa Cruz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Santa Cruz checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Martell throws a half hearted mid kick.
Martell shoots for a double leg takedown but Santa Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Martell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Martell is defending well but Santa Cruz drives through and ends up in Martell's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Martell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Martell is working from the bottom.
Martell trying to control the position here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell keeping moving, preventing Santa Cruz from controlling successfully.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A low kick from Santa Cruz is predictable there
and Martell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Martell.
A short uppercut from Santa Cruz.
Martell lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Santa Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Santa Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Martell lands a hook that snaps the head of Santa Cruz backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santa Cruz is defending well for now.
Santa Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santa Cruz taking a breather.
A bit of stalling here from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Martell.
Martell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Santa Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell lands with a left to the head.
Santa Cruz misses with a body punch.
Martell looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Santa Cruz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Martell.
Martell is trying to drag Santa Cruz to the mat but Santa Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Santa Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Martell.
Martell has Santa Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santa Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oberyn Martell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martell is fighting off a takedown attempt but Santa Cruz is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Martell to the mat. Martell regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Santa Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Martell is working from the bottom.
Santa Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Martell keeps moving.
Santa Cruz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Santa Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Rafael Santa Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A punch combination from Santa Cruz misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Santa Cruz, right into the meat.
Santa Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Martell manages to avoid it.
Santa Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Martell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Martell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz obviously looking to wear him down.
Martell misses with a body kick.
Santa Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Santa Cruz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Martell has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Martell and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Martell in the body.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Martell's front leg with a kick but Martell checks it.
Martell blocks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Santa Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Santa Cruz blocks a head kick by Martell.
Martell looks for the body kick but Santa Cruz saw that one coming.
Martell leaves Santa Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell misses with a low kick.
Martell tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santa Cruz is able to avoid easily.
Santa Cruz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Martell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Santa Cruz defends it nicely.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Santa Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz throws a body punch but Martell moves out of range.
Santa Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santa Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick that misses.
Martell has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Martell there as he acknowledges the shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Martell is out of range and Santa Cruz settles back down.
Santa Cruz misses with a head kick.
Santa Cruz slips under a jab.
Martell tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Santa Cruz does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Santa Cruz cracks the inside of Martell's front leg.
Martell misses with a takedown attempt
and Santa Cruz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oberyn Martell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santa Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Martell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santa Cruz can pounce on him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Martell's calf.
That kick from Santa Cruz tenderised Martell's leg. Martell is trying to keep his angry face on.
Martell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell moves out of range of the leg kick from Santa Cruz.
Nice jab there from Martell.
Martell swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Santa Cruz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Santa Cruz throws out a leg kick but Martell moves out of range and Santa Cruz only half commits.
Martell tries to land a leg kick but Santa Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Santa Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Martell back to the cage. Santa Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Santa Cruz looks to land a left hand but Martell moved out of range nicely.
Santa Cruz is looking to score with low kicks.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Martell moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Santa Cruz throws out a leg kick but Martell moves out of range and Santa Cruz only half commits.
Martell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Santa Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Martell.
Santa Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Martell sprawls well. He's pushed Santa Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Santa 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.
Santa Cruz throws a wild body kick that Martell sees coming a mile off.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santa Cruz pushes Martell away with a front kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martell throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Santa Cruz counters with a body kick that stops Martell in his tracks momentarily.
Martell avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Martell tries for a takedown but Santa Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Martell wants to clinch up but Santa Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Martell moves out of range of the leg kick from Santa Cruz.
Some bone on bone action there as Santa Cruz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Santa Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Martell throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
Martell looks to land a left hand but Santa Cruz moved out of range nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Martell is predictable there
and Santa Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Santa Cruz.
Martell with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Santa Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Martell has double underhooks.
Santa Cruz is pushing Martell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
A solid body kick from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martell avoids it really well and circles away.
Santa Cruz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Santa Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Martell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santa Cruz. That's going to slow Martell down.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That kick from Martell tenderised Santa Cruz's leg. Santa Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Martell is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Good leg kick by Santa Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Santa Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Martell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Martell throws a low kick but it's checked well by Santa Cruz.
Martell takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Good shot there by Santa Cruz.
Martell blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Martell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santa Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Santa Cruz jabs at Martell's body.
Martell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Martell misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Santa Cruz wants to slow Martell down by chopping away at his legs.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick but Martell moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Martell fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range.
Santa Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Santa Cruz scores with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good exchange - Martell coming out on top.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santa Cruz. That's going to slow Martell down.
Martell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Martell darts in looking for a takedown but Santa Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Martell into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oberyn Martell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick, looking for Martell's leg but Martell calmly moves out of range.
Martell looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santa Cruz defending well as Martell loads up on a big left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Santa Cruz.
Martell lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santa Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Santa Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz thumps Martell with a low kick.
Rafael Santa Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Santa Cruz, right into the meat.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Martell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
Martell thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Santa Cruz if he has to take too many more of those.
Santa Cruz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Martell if he has to take too many more of those.
Martell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Santa Cruz defends it nicely.
Santa Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Oberyn Martell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Martell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santa Cruz defends well and Martell ends up having to push Santa Cruz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Martell trying to land knees to the body.
Santa Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Martell. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santa Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz is leaning against Martell and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Santa Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Martell avoids it by throwing Santa Cruz back against the cage.
Santa Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Martell is defending well against a takedown attempt.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Martell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martell.
Nice body punch from Santa Cruz.
Martell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Santa Cruz is defending well.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Martell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Santa Cruz is defending well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santa Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, DTK Designs (Laundry), into his post fight interview.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
86% |
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