PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jim Bo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmVndzNIkI as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bo
vs
Cruz

160 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
130 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Team S.W.A.T.
Team S.W.A.T.

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jim Bo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Martin Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bo dives on top into guard.

Cruz working for a triangle but Bo defends it easily.
Bo slips nicely into half guard.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bo trying to control the pace.
Bo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
Bo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bo pulls his head out easily.
Bo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bo controlling from the full mount.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Bo controlling his opponent.
Cruz is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jim Bo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Bo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz looks gassed!

Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bo regains half guard, as Cruz was trying to land strikes.

Bo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cruz at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Bo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bo misses with a straight left.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bo.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bo gets full guard.
Cruz trying to control but Bo is working from the bottom.
Bo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bo pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Bo as Cruz shoots in.
Bo throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Cruz slips a jab from Bo.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bo.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bo throws out the jab.
Bo lands an overhand right.
Martin Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bo throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bo throws a jab when Cruz was well out of range.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Bo misses with a straight left.
Bo lands a nice shot to the body.
Bo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bo throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bo punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bo.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jim Bo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Cruz.
Bo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bo throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Bo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cruz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz slips a straight right by Bo.
Bo missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Bo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Cruz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bo escapes and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Bo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bo.
Bo lands a couple of digs.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cruz working for a triangle but Bo defends it easily.

Cruz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bo has picked Cruz up and slammed him! Cruz can't keep hold of the triangle and Bo manages to pass to side control!
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bo is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bo throws a solid leg kick but Cruz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bo.
Cruz with a poor takedown

and Bo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bo.
Bo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Bo controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bo escapes and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Jim Bo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bo slows the pace down.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cruz with the active half guard here but Bo passes nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Bo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Bo!