PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Erich Gillespie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gillespie
vs
Cruz

189 cm
21
151 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Erich Gillespie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillespie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Gillespie is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Gillespie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gillespie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gillespie tries to counter with a takedown but Cruz is quick to defend against it.
Gillespie tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gillespie tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cruz manages to circle out of the way.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gillespie counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Gillespie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz wants to stand up but Gillespie is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gillespie is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gillespie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gillespie tries to clinch
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Gillespie.
Cruz misses with a kick to the body.
Gillespie avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side
and Cruz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gillespie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Gillespie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gillespie circles away quickly and effectively.

Gillespie darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Gillespie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.

Gillespie breaks the clinch.
Gillespie tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gillespie moves out of range.
Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gillespie blocks a head kick by Cruz.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz feints a jab promting Gillespie to slip. Cruz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gillespie slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gillespie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz throws a low kick but Gillespie avoids it.
Gillespie feinted with a counter takedown.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gillespie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Gillespie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gillespie tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz lands with an uppercut that bounces Gillespie off the cage and back into range.
Cruz lunges at Gillespie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gillespie's hand.
Gillespie misses with a wild body shot.
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!
Gillespie misses with a two punch combination.
Gillespie checks a low kick from Cruz.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Gillespie tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gillespie avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Gillespie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gillespie throws a combination that misses
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Gillespie avoids it well.
Andre Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gillespie has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Gillespie manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gillespie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Andre Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gillespie backs up against the cage.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gillespie moves out of range.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Gillespie moves out of range easily.
Gillespie feinted with a counter takedown.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a body kick.
Gillespie throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz unleashes a big counter combination but Gillespie bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cruz throws a hook but Gillespie blocks it.
A head kick from Gillespie lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Gillespie does no damage.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Gillespie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Gillespie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gillespie tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gillespie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gillespie blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Gillespie backs away looking to recover.
Gillespie blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz throws out a counter right but Gillespie avoids it with no problem.
A punch combination from Gillespie misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gillespie counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Gillespie to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Gillespie falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gillespie moves out of range.
Gillespie moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gillespie tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gillespie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gillespie wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to land a front kick but Gillespie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cruz throws a head kick but Gillespie moves out of range.
Cruz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gillespie's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As Cruz looks to move away, Gillespie throws a big counter combo bu Cruz just gets out of the way.
An inside leg kick lands from Cruz.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Cruz lands a head kick. Gillespie smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Gillespie closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Gillespie is looking to take this one to the mat.
A right hook to the body lands for Cruz.
Gillespie prevents the takedown attempt.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz tries to land a front kick but Gillespie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gillespie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz tries a low kick but Gillespie avoids it.

Gillespie moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gillespie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Erich Gillespie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gillespie tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz scores with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Cruz moves out of range as Gillespie strikes.
Gillespie tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Gillespie wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Gillespie misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Gillespie drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruz sprawls and moves away.
Cruz pushes Gillespie away with a front kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cruz. Gillespie shrugs it off though.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gillespie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gillespie tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz wants to slow Gillespie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gillespie misses with a double jab.
Gillespie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gillespie there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gillespie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gillespie tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Erich Gillespie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gillespie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Cruz!