PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jimmy Gotti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Gotti

180 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
35
152 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Gotti!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz lunges at Gotti with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gotti's hand.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz lands a head kick!
Gotti avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Gotti scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cruz in his tracks.
Gotti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gotti tries to land a front kick but Cruz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gotti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body. Gotti takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gotti misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.
Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gotti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gotti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to bum rush Gotti with a series of wild strikes but Gotti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gotti swinging wildly here.
Gotti lands a right hook to the body.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz scores with a head kick. Gotti tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gotti tries a head kick but it misses.
Gotti avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz lands a head kick!
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gotti.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Gotti's front leg but catches the back leg as Gotti tries to avoid it.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Gotti.
Gotti walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cruz lands with a kick to the ribs.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Gotti.
Sloppy strikes from Gotti. Those never looked like landing.
Gotti takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Gotti.
Cruz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Gotti slips the punch.
Cruz feints and then cracks Gotti's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gotti down.
Gotti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gotti misses with a low kick.
Gotti blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Gotti throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Gotti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Gotti tries a head kick but it misses.
Gotti throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gotti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti dodges the punch combination from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz throws a head kick that Gotti semi-blocks.
Cruz 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.
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!
Gotti doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Gotti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gotti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Gotti.
Gotti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick from Gotti lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.
Gotti throws a body kick that misses.
Gotti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gotti throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gotti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gotti fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gotti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
Cruz works over Gotti's head and body with a nice combination.
Gotti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gotti avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gotti.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz scores with a head kick. Gotti tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gotti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gotti's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cruz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gotti scrambles back to his feet.
Cruz thows a leg kick but Gotti checks it
and Gotti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotti connects with a high kick.
Leo Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gotti takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti throws a head kick that half lands.

Cruz is rocked!
Gotti misses with the combination.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Gotti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gotti blocks a leg kick.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cruz. Cruz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gotti avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Gotti moves out of range as Cruz strikes.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.
A head kick by Cruz misses
and Gotti counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gotti scores with a jab.
Gotti moves out of range of the leg kick from Cruz.
Gotti is looking to score with low kicks.
Cruz throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz moves out of range as Gotti throws a body kick.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Leo Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Gotti comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gotti blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Gotti moves out of range of the body kick.
Gotti pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Gotti counters with an outside leg kick.
Gotti looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Cruz takes a swing at Gotti's ribcage but misses.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gotti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gotti blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gotti slips a jab from Cruz.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Gotti moves out of range easily.
Cruz tries to land a body kick
and Gotti counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Gotti to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gotti misses with a body kick.
Gotti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gotti lands with a shot to the body.
Gotti tries a head kick but it misses.
Gotti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Gotti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmy Gotti will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gotti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Gotti dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A head kick misses from Gotti.
Gotti tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz tries to work over Gotti's front leg with a kick but Gotti checks it.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Gotti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gotti misses with the combination.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gotti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gotti.
Cruz lands a head kick!
Gotti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick from Cruz lands but Gotti takes it in his stride.
Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Gotti throws a lazy head kick
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
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!
Gotti lands with an overhand left.
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Gotti throws a right hand that misses
and Cruz counters with an outside leg kick.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Gotti.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Gotti - that will leave a mark!
Cruz drops his hands momentarily and Gotti takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cruz cracks the inside of Gotti's front leg.
Gotti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gotti counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gotti.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gotti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gotti throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Gotti looks to land a body kick but Cruz moved away.
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Gotti throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Cruz's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Gotti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz lands with a slapping head kick.
Gotti's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gotti tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gotti looks to land a body kick but Cruz moved away.
Gotti tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Gotti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Gotti.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimmy Gotti.
I think Gotti 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jimmy Gotti!
Jimmy Gotti opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.