PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shinichi Onizuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Onizuka comes to the cage accompanied by Nate Dogg - First We Pray. Santa Cruz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 50 cent P.I.M.P. 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.

Onizuka
vs
Santa Cruz

185 cm
32
176 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

180 cm
31
175 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing + 70% laundry

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 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Shinichi Onizuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Onizuka.
Onizuka checks a leg kick nicely.
Santa Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Onizuka throws the left hand but Santa Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Onizuka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Santa Cruz moves forwards but Onizuka connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick but Onizuka moves out of range.
Santa Cruz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Santa Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Onizuka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Santa Cruz.
Onizuka moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Onizuka throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Onizuka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santa Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Santa Cruz is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
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.
Onizuka checks the leg kick.
Onizuka 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.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santa Cruz wants to slow Onizuka down by chopping away at his legs.
Onizuka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Santa Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Onizuka scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Onizuka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santa Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Onizuka throws a lazy uppercut
and Santa Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Onizuka is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Onizuka takes a swing at Santa Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Onizuka looks to land a left hand but Santa Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Onizuka scores with a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santa Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz wants to land a leg kick but Onizuka is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Onizuka in the body.
Onizuka lands a glancing blow to the side of Santa Cruz's head.
Santa Cruz misses with a leg kick
and Onizuka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santa Cruz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Onizuka misses with a looping right.
Onizuka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Onizuka is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Santa Cruz moves out of range as Onizuka strikes.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Onizuka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Onizuka throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Santa Cruz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Onizuka scores with a leg kick.
Santa Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Onizuka moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Danga de danga de dang - Onizuka scores with a four punch combination!
Santa Cruz avoids the body shot from Onizuka.
Santa Cruz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Onizuka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa Cruz misses with a looping left.
Onizuka misses with a wild body shot.
Santa Cruz tries to work over Onizuka's front leg with a kick but Onizuka checks it.
Onizuka swings for the body but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Santa Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Onizuka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santa Cruz looks to land a body kick but Onizuka moved away.
Onizuka scores with a body shot.
Onizuka throws the left hand but Santa Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Santa Cruz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Onizuka. Onizuka circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Onizuka loads up on a big right hand but Santa Cruz slips the punch.
Onizuka on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Santa Cruz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Onizuka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Onizuka throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Onizuka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Santa Cruz lands with a nice body punch.
Santa Cruz lands a right hook to the body.
Onizuka's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Santa Cruz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Onizuka scrambles back to his feet.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Onizuka misses with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santa Cruz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz looks to land a left hand but Onizuka moved out of range nicely.
Onizuka misses with a hook.
Santa Cruz throws a lazy body kick
and Onizuka counters with a left and a right that stings Santa Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shinichi Onizuka will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santa Cruz connects with a leg kick. Onizuka looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Santa Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Onizuka is out of range and Santa Cruz settles back down.
Onizuka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Onizuka moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santa Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Onizuka walks into a jab.
Onizuka looks to score with a jab to the body but Santa Cruz is just out of range.
Santa Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Onizuka.
Onizuka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Santa Cruz thumps Onizuka with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Onizuka shoots in but Santa Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santa Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Santa Cruz shoots in but Onizuka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Onizuka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Onizuka.
Onizuka blocks the body kick.
Santa Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Onizuka.
Onizuka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Santa Cruz has time to react.
Onizuka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santa Cruz defending well as Onizuka loads up on a big left hand.
Onizuka scores with a sloppy right hand. Santa Cruz should have avoided that one.
Onizuka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Santa Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Onizuka on his heels. He'll look to pass Onizuka's guard now, I'm sure.
Santa Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Onizuka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Onizuka keeping moving, preventing Santa Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka is trying to keep Santa Cruz in close.
Santa Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Onizuka looking to control.
Santa Cruz distracts Onizuka with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Onizuka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Santa Cruz defends it easily.
Santa Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Onizuka is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Santa Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Santa Cruz is looking to pass into half guard but Onizuka pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Onizuka is in guard.

Onizuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santa Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Onizuka works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Onizuka is working away from the top position though.
Onizuka trying to control the pace.
Onizuka working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Santa Cruz's thigh. Santa Cruz counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Santa Cruz wants to hit a switch here but Onizuka passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Santa Cruz there!
Onizuka dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Santa Cruz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Onizuka's calf.
Santa Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Santa Cruz works Onizuka's body with a nice hook.
Onizuka tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Onizuka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Onizuka 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 tries to score with a low kick but Onizuka moves his leg out of the way.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Santa Cruz.
Onizuka throws a low kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz lands a front kick.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick
and Onizuka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santa Cruz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Onizuka is able to avoid easily.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Onizuka.
Onizuka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Onizuka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santa Cruz's waist but Santa Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Onizuka off to one side.
Santa Cruz thumps Onizuka with a low kick.
Onizuka misses with a combination
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice low kick that buckles Onizuka's knee momentarily.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz misses with a leg kick
and Onizuka makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Onizuka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Santa Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Onizuka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santa Cruz sprawls well. Santa Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Onizuka gets slowly back to his feet.

Onizuka shoots in and bounces Santa Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Santa Cruz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Onizuka has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Onizuka wants to free his trapped foot but Santa Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Santa Cruz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz trying to control here.
Onizuka sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Onizuka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santa Cruz gets back to full guard.
Onizuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Santa Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santa Cruz keeping full guard, as Onizuka tries to pass.
Santa Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Onizuka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santa Cruz.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santa Cruz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santa 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'm a fucking beast. Been a pleasure. You best get me the god dam champ!'.