PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norris Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Crawford
vs
Cruz

207 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norris Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cruz.
Crawford takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cruz.
Cruz throws a front kick that sends Crawford stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Crawford's sensitive parts.
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Crawford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
Cruz lands with a kick to the ribs.
Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!
Cruz bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cruz.
That kick from Cruz tenderised Crawford's leg. Crawford is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cruz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Crawford tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Crawford stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cruz.
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!
Crawford takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Leo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Crawford's sensitive parts.
Cruz lands a leg kick that knocks Crawford off balance momentarily.
Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Crawford takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Cruz tenderised Crawford's leg. Crawford is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz throws a head kick but Crawford moves out of range.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Crawford has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cruz scores with a push kick.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Crawford moves out of range easily.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Crawford has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Cruz - that will leave a mark!
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Crawford will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Crawford moves out of range easily.
Crawford 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 goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Crawford manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cruz lets loose with a powerful body kick. Crawford will feel that in the morning.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Crawford tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Crawford has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Crawford avoids a kick to the body.
Crawford moves out of range of the leg kick from Cruz.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A clash of legs there as Crawford blocks the low kick.
Cruz explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Crawford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crawford takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A solid body kick from Cruz.
Crawford avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Crawford is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Crawford's sensitive parts.
Good leg kick by Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Cruz scores with a nice body kick.
Crawford takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Norris Crawford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cruz.
Cruz lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. Crawford looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Crawford avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Leo Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crawford takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Crawford might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Crawford's sensitive parts.
Crawford blocks a head kick by Cruz.

Crawford bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Crawford decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cruz to his feet.
Crawford walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Cruz tenderised Crawford's leg. Crawford is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.

Crawford closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Crawford is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Crawford to get the leverage.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Crawford thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Crawford is nestled in close to Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Crawford is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz is trying to stand back up but Crawford is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crawford stands up from half guard.

Crawford clinches with his opponent.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crawford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
Crawford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leo Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cruz.
Crawford takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cruz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cruz lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz scores with a head kick. Crawford tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Crawford is rocked!

It looks like Norris Crawford has been cut.
Cruz and Crawford are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. Cruz throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Crawford into next week! Ooooh that was huge! Cruz knows it - he's on the cage flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Leo Cruz!