PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Olson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abel Cruz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cruz
vs
Olson

171 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrew Olson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Olson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Olson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Olson's guard.
Olson can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Olson wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz throwing shots but Olson is blocking nicely.
Olson gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Olson's guard.
Olson gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Olson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Olson is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Olson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Olson has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.

Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cruz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Olson trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Olson keeps working.
Olson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olson is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Olson is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Olson trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Olson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Cruz is keen to just control but Olson is a slippery customer.
Olson gets back to full guard.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olson trying to control here.
Olson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.
Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cruz working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Olson's thigh. Olson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Olson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Olson tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Olson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cruz trying to control the action but Olson is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Olson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Olson.
Abel Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Olson tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Olson misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Cruz tests Olson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Olson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Olson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Olson looks to move away, Cruz throws a big counter combo bu Olson just gets out of the way.
Olson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
Olson throws a counter combo.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Olson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Olson counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
My spies in Abobomination Training $700 13 LEGIT elite coaches inform me that Olson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Cruz has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Olson should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Cruz has tightened it up now! Olson should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Abel Cruz!
A very excited looking Abel Cruz made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.