PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnie Rex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mockingbird-Eminem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rex
vs
Cruz

175 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnie Rex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joey Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz looks for a takedown but Rex sprawls well.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rex.
Rex just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz dives in and grabs Rex's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rex pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rex counters with a left and a right that stings Cruz.
Johnie Rex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Cruz.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cruz blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rex.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rex after a bit of a struggle.
Rex lands a shot to the body.
Rex makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cruz blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Rex.
Rex misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Rex.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Rex turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rex lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rex throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.

Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rex could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rex!
Rex is squirming around, avoiding Cruz's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Cruz is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rex is surviving well by controlling Cruz's body position as best he can.
Cruz wants to control the pace but Rex is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rex blocking the ground and pound.

Cruz goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rex is on top in guard.
Rex prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rex moves into range and clinches up with Cruz.
A nice left hand lands by Rex.
Rex lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Rex.
Rex has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Rex lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Rex throws a head punch that misses.
Rex lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Rex swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rex has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A shot in the inside from Rex.
Rex swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rex swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rex doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rex tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rex has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rex misses with the head strike.
Rex misses with a body punch.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Rex lands a shoulder strike.
Rex misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Rex as the two fighters clinch.
Rex struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.
Rex misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rex gets the underhooks and prevents it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rex.
Cruz wants to break free but Rex has control.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Rex lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cruz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rex is working Cruz over against the cage.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rex lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Rex lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rex working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rex.
A head punch on the inside from Rex fails to land.
Rex lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rex misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Rex.
Cruz is trying to drag Rex to the mat but Rex just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnie Rex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Cruz.
Rex misses with some punches.

Cruz pulls guard.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rex gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Rex postures up.
Rex knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cruz is on top in guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Rex keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joey Cruz.
Rex moves out of range of the strikes.
Rex throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rex swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rex's waist but Rex gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Johnie Rex has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rex tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rex swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johnie Rex will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johnie Rex's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cruz throws a wild body kick that Rex sees coming a mile off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rex stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Rex working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Rex scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Rex.
Rex working aggressively here.
Rex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rex lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rex fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rex on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rex goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rex is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Rex circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnie Rex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Cruz.
Rex misses with an uppercut.
Rex avoids the head kick by Cruz.

Rex forces Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
Rex tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Rex back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Rex.
Rex scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rex tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rex is working Cruz over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Rex as the two fighters clinch.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rex working aggressively here.
Rex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rex tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cruz's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rex has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Rex has him pressed against the cage.
Rex throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Cruz.

Cruz successfully pulls guard.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rex can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rex tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rex postures up.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rex's guard.
Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Rex is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joey Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Cruz instigates a clinch.

Cruz jumps guard.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnie Rex.
I think Rex has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Johnie Rex!