|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter comes to the cage accompanied by Cyprus Hill - Hits From the Bong. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
 |
|
 |
| 180 cm
33
182 lbs
30 - 16 - 0 |
|
180 cm
32
175 lbs
21 - 13 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
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
30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hunter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunter has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Araba Fenice in the buildup to the fight.
Decent striking displayed by Santa Cruz there.
Hunter walks into a straight right hand from Santa Cruz.
Hunter with a jab.
Santa Cruz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Santa Cruz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hunter.
Hunter throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Santa Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hunter misses the shot to the body.
Santa Cruz misses with a kick to the body.
Hunter missing with a left hand there. Santa Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hunter lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
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!
Hunter looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hunter lands an overhand right.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab. Hunter acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Santa Cruz slips a jab from Hunter.
Hunter misses with a hook. Santa Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Santa Cruz is looking to land body kicks.
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santa Cruz.
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santa Cruz.
Hunter misses with a jab to the body
and Santa Cruz counters with a good low kick that Hunter was not able to check.
Santa Cruz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hunter connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Santa Cruz slips a jab from Hunter.
Hunter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A quick step to the side and Hunter tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jay Hunter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donk. Hunter catches Santa Cruz right on the button with a cross.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter misses with a shot to the body
and Santa Cruz counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hunter throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Santa Cruz on the side of the head.
We've been informed that Santa Cruz has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Santa Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santa Cruz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hunter checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Santa Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hunter.
Hunter lands with a thumping leg kick.
Santa Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Hunter takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hunter turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santa Cruz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hunter is looking to counter punch.
Santa Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hunter stuffs the takedown attempt from Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santa Cruz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hunter counters with a leg kick.
Santa Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Hunter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santa Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz thinks about the counter body kick.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick that knocks Hunter off balance momentarily.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Hunter went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hunter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Santa Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Santa Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter with a jab.
Santa Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.
That kick from Hunter tenderised Santa Cruz's leg. Santa Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a body punch but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter tried to score with a low kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
Hunter is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Santa Cruz digs a good body shot into Hunter's ribs.
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santa Cruz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santa Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Santa Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Hunter.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hunter.
Hunter lands a body punch in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hunter.
Santa Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Hunter has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santa Cruz into the cage.
Santa Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunter's elbow.
Hunter lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hunter.
Hunter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santa Cruz.
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santa Cruz.
Hunter feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Santa Cruz
and Hunter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santa Cruz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hunter is able to avoid easily.
Santa Cruz scores with a sloppy right hand. Hunter should have avoided that one.
Santa Cruz throws a push kick but Hunter slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Cruz tests Hunter's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santa Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
Hunter throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Santa Cruz misses the shot to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hunter blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Hunter ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hunter is looking to counter punch.
Santa Cruz lands a nice hook to Hunter's body. Hunter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Santa Cruz thuds his shin into the meat of Hunter's side.
Santa Cruz throws a body punch but Hunter moves out of range.
Santa Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa Cruz with a hook.
Hunter works the jab nicely.
Hunter fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Santa Cruz checks it well.
Santa Cruz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Santa Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hunter rather than just go for the knockout.
Santa Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hunter connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Santa Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter scores with a spinning back kick!
Santa Cruz tries a low kick but Hunter avoids it.
Santa Cruz is looking to chop away at Hunter's legs.
Hunter 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.
Hunter throws a lazy head kick
and Hunter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Santa Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Hunter works Santa Cruz's body with a nice hook.
Hunter fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range.
Santa Cruz misses with a wild combination.
It looked like Hunter was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hunter thumps Santa Cruz with a low kick.
Hunter thows a left - swing and a miss!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter throws a hook but Santa Cruz blocks it.
Santa Cruz throws out a loose jab but Hunter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santa Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Santa Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rafael Santa Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
Santa Cruz looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Santa Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hunter at a distance.
Hunter cracks a nice hook into Santa Cruz's ribs.
Hunter throws a leg kick that is checked
and Santa Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hunter tries to land a leg kick but Santa Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a right and a left that Hunter avoids nicely.
Hunter misses the jab.
Santa Cruz swings for the body but Hunter moves out of range.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight right.
Santa Cruz moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santa Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hunter is looking to score with low kicks.
Hunter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santa Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz throws a body kick that misses
and Hunter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
An inside leg kick from Hunter misses.
Hunter on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Santa Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hunter.
Santa Cruz thinks about the counter body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Santa Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hunter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hunter tests Santa Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santa Cruz throws a wild body kick that Hunter sees coming a mile off.
Hunter throws a body shot but no joy.
Hunter tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter moves out of range of the body kick from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hunter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santa Cruz manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Santa Cruz.
A jab lands there for Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hunter throws out the jab.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Hunter sees it coming and moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hunter slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Santa Cruz there.
A low kick from Hunter is predictable there
and Santa Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A shot to the body from Hunter misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Santa Cruz.
Hunter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A slow jab from Santa Cruz misses its intended target.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hunter throws a quick inside leg kick.
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!
Hunter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santa Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hunter with a body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hunter misses the shot to the body.
And Santa Cruz tries to counter it with a takedown but Hunter pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hunter gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Santa Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunter.
Hunter is looking to counter punch.
Santa Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Santa Cruz avoids the head kick by Hunter.
Santa Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santa Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hunter stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Hunter moved away.
Hunter with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A thudding body kick lands there by Santa Cruz!
Hunter dodges the punch combination from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hunter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rafael Santa Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hunter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Santa Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santa Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hunter blocks the body kick.
Hunter thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santa Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Santa Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Jay Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunter tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Santa Cruz is able to avoid easily.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Hunter lands with a thumping leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Hunter misses.
Hunter tries to clinch but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Hunter walks forward, straight into a front kick from Santa Cruz.
Hunter throws a low kick but it's checked well by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Santa Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hunter is out of range and Santa Cruz settles back down.
Hunter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santa Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hunter will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.
Hunter misses with a two punch combination.
Hunter throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santa Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
In his post fight interview, Rafael Santa Cruz gave a big smile as he said 'I'm a fucking beast. Been a pleasure. You best get me the god dam champ!'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
