PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wesley James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Totoy Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Totoy Cruz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wesley James's chin.

James
vs
Cruz

202 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wesley James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Totoy Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cruz has James pulled in close to control his posture.
Cruz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James works over Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz looks winded!

James gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in James's half guard.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cruz is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. James manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
James thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
James wants to hit a switch here but Cruz passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for James there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
James tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.

Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cruz tries to pass to full mount but James defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James works his way to full guard. Good work.
James trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.
Cruz postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz won't allow James to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wesley James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cruz stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cruz as James tries to tie him up.
Cruz tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz has hold of one of James's legs. James is fighting the takedown attempt but Cruz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.

Cruz stands up and waves to James to follow him.

Cruz feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but instead James has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
James lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
James working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Totoy Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging James to the ground. Cruz is now in James's guard.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James trying to control the position.
Cruz won't allow James to sweep him here.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and James counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
James lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into James's guard.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Totoy Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
James fails with the takedown.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Cruz tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cruz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Totoy Cruz.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

James gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.

Cruz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
James won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz prevents James from improving his position.
James gets full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cruz!
James in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Totoy Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Totoy Cruz!