PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Powell
vs
Dela Cruz

173 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
136 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lamont Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Juan Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powell moves to clinch but Dela Cruz breaks away
and Dela Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Dela Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dela Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Powell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dela Cruz's guard now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Powell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dela Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
Dela Cruz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Powell is looking to stand up but Dela Cruz won't let him.
Dela Cruz keeping full guard, as Powell tries to pass.
Powell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Dela Cruz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Powell uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dela Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Powell controlling the position from side mount.
Powell trying to control the position but Dela Cruz is working away.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Powell postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Powell keeps moving and retains side control.
Dela Cruz looks winded!
Dela Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Powell has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Dela Cruz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Powell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Powell taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lamont Powell.

Powell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dela Cruz was covering up waiting for the punch and Powell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dela Cruz is trying to control the position but Powell postures up.
Powell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Powell looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Powell manages to get himself to full guard.
Powell is adopting a defensive guard.
Powell trying to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Powell is looking to stand up but Dela Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Powell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Powell tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Powell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamont Powell dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Powell shoots for a takedown but Dela Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Powell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dela Cruz circles away.
Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Powell, looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz pushes Powell against the cage but Powell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Powell loads up on a big right hand but Dela Cruz slips the punch.

Dela Cruz darts in and clinches Powell up against the cage.
Dela Cruz is breathing heavily.
Powell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dela Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Powell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Powell manages to break the clinch.
Lamont Powell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Powell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dela Cruz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lamont Powell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
Powell cracks Dela Cruz with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Dela Cruz is trying to buck Powell off.
Dela Cruz trying to remain calm as Powell controls from the top position.
Dela Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Powell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Powell wants to stand but Dela Cruz is controlling his arm.
Powell tries to move to mount but Dela Cruz blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a few punches from side control.
Powell content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Powell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dela Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Dela Cruz!
Dela Cruz can't escape the position.
Powell landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dela Cruz wants to hold on but Powell pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Powell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Powell controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamont Powell dominated that second round.
That's time! Powell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Powell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dela Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dela Cruz has his takedown stuffed

and Powell counters by moving into the clinch.
Dela Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Powell keeps him there for the moment.
Powell wants a takedown.

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch.
Dela Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Powell moves out of range easily.
Dela Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Powell scores with a takedown into Dela Cruz's guard.
Powell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz has momentary wrist control but Powell slips an elbow through the middle.
Dela Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Powell distracts Dela Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Powell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Dela Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Powell is aware though and is defending well.
Powell advances to half guard.

Powell is looking for a kimura but Dela Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Powell to get the leverage.
Powell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz pushes Powell off looking to stand but Powell dives back in and keeps control.
Powell controlling the pace.
Powell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Powell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dela Cruz is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Powell is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Powell is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Powell looking to secure an arm triangle but Dela Cruz defends it well.
Dela Cruz tries to reverse the position but Powell maintains control.
Powell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Powell landing strikes from the mount.
Powell scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Dela Cruz?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell landing strikes from the mount.
BOOM! Powell connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Powell working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Dela Cruz looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Powell! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Lamont Powell!