PBP Commentary

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

Cruz
vs
Bryant

171 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

169 cm
25
153 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

GREEN!160

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desean Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bryant moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz is looking to counter punch.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Bryant on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bryant jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Abel Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz throws a right hand that Bryant ducks under and follows up with a left that Bryant also avoids with ease.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bryant.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Bryant.
Bryant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Cruz dives in and grabs Bryant's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bryant pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
It seemed like Bryant was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant misses with the combination.
Cruz attempts a counter takedown but Bryant avoids it well and moves away.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Bryant manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A little jabbing left from Bryant on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz throws a sloppy body shot
and Bryant counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bryant avoids a punch combination nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bryant! But no joy.
Cruz tries to move into range but Bryant moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bryant throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bryant slips a straight right by Cruz.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bryant but Bryant pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bryant lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Bryant avoids nicely.
Desean Bryant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bryant scores with a jab.
Bryant takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryant throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Bryant.
As Bryant looks to move away, Cruz throws a big counter combo bu Bryant just gets out of the way.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It seemed like Bryant was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Bryant showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Bryant.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Bryant unleashes a big counter combination but Cruz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bryant clobbers Cruz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bryant might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Bryant, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Bryant against the cage but Bryant circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bryant tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cruz misses with a takedown
and Bryant counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cruz. Bryant shrugs it off though.
Nice cross by Bryant.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Bryant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Cruz dives in and scores a takedown into Bryant's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bryant wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Bryant is keeping the position.
Bryant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryant keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bryant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Desean Bryant will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A combination from Cruz does no damage.
It seemed like Bryant was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryant paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Bryant dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Bryant counters with a stiff right hand.
Bryant throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Bryant looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz scores with a jab. Bryant acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Bryant fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Bryant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant pressing his opponent against the cage.

Bryant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bryant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Bryant throws out a counter right but Cruz avoids it with no problem.
Abel Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cruz misses with a leg kick
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Bryant counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Bryant moves out of range.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bryant circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bryant counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Cruz is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bryant counters with a nice right hand that sends Cruz toppling to the canvas! Cruz scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Bryant finish him?!
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz glances at the clock... BAM! Bryant nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Cruz crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Cruz is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Desean Bryant!