PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julek La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Elkimenchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

La Cruz
vs
Elkimenchi

172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Julek La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evgeni Elkimenchi!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elkimenchi looks for a takedown but La Cruz sprawls well.
As Elkimenchi looks to move away, La Cruz throws a big counter combo bu Elkimenchi just gets out of the way.
Elkimenchi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Elkimenchi wants it to stay on the feet.
Elkimenchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. La Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like La Cruz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
La Cruz throws a right and a left that Elkimenchi avoids nicely.
Good leg kick by Elkimenchi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Elkimenchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

La Cruz moves into the clinch.
La Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Elkimenchi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but La Cruz is defending well.
La Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Elkimenchi keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

La Cruz has Elkimenchi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. La Cruz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Elkimenchi tumbling to the mat - La Cruz dives into Elkimenchi's guard.
Elkimenchi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Elkimenchi is working an open guard so La Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

La Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Elkimenchi to the mat! Elkimenchi manages to get full guard.

La Cruz stands up from Elkimenchi's guard - La Cruz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Elkimenchi connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi throws a leg kick which misses La Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as La Cruz tries to avoid it.
Elkimenchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but La Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Elkimenchi fails with the takedown.
Julek La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkimenchi.
La Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Elkimenchi shows good takedown defense.
Elkimenchi feints the counter takedown.
La Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As La Cruz backs off Elkimenchi throws a huge counter combo but La Cruz manages to avoid it all.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body kick from Elkimenchi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Elkimenchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi tries to clinch but La Cruz is having none of it.
Elkimenchi closes the distance and clinches up with La Cruz, looking for a takedown. Elkimenchi pushes La Cruz against the cage but La Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
La Cruz feinted with a counter takedown.
La Cruz tries to clinch there but Elkimenchi circles away.
Elkimenchi tries to close the distance and clinch but La Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Elkimenchi lands a head kick!
La Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Elkimenchi.

Elkimenchi rushes La Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
La Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Elkimenchi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Elkimenchi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around La Cruz's waist but La Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elkimenchi off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Elkimenchi.
Elkimenchi shoots in and drives through. La Cruz sprawls well.
Elkimenchi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around La Cruz's waist but La Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elkimenchi off to one side.
Elkimenchi fails with the takedown.
Elkimenchi looks for a takedown but La Cruz sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
La Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

La Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. La Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Elkimenchi is trying to get back to full guard.

La Cruz is looking for a kimura here.
La Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Elkimenchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Cruz passes to side control.
An elbow from La Cruz crashes against the mat.

La Cruz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
La Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
La Cruz appears to be looking for a big counter.
La Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Elkimenchi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Elkimenchi tries to score a power double leg takedown but La Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Elkimenchi somewhat.
La Cruz is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Elkimenchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi shoots in for a takedown but La Cruz shows good takedown defense.

Elkimenchi clinches with his opponent.

Elkimenchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elkimenchi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and La Cruz counters by clinching up.
La Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Elkimenchi prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julek La Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
La Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No joy there for Elkimenchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Elkimenchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Elkimenchi shoots for a takedown but La Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Elkimenchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says La Cruz as he avoids it easily.
La Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elkimenchi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Elkimenchi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Elkimenchi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
La Cruz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi misses with a takedown attempt - La Cruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like La Cruz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Elkimenchi is breathing heavily.
Elkimenchi is looking to clinch.
La Cruz throws a big counter combination but Elkimenchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Elkimenchi misses with a takedown

and La Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
Elkimenchi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
La Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.
La Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Elkimenchi's efforts to push away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
La Cruz keeps control of Elkimenchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julek La Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

La Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Elkimenchi.

La Cruz gets caught napping as Elkimenchi dives in and scores a takedown. La Cruz manages to retain guard.
La Cruz is pulling down on Elkimenchi's head to control his posture.
La Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Elkimenchi preventing the sweep.
La Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Elkimenchi's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elkimenchi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst La Cruz is controlling him.
La Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Cruz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Elkimenchi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with La Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Elkimenchi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
La Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Elkimenchi blocks nicely.

La Cruz gets to his feet - Elkimenchi follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
La Cruz looks for a takedown but Elkimenchi sprawls well.
Elkimenchi wants to counter with a clinch but La Cruz pushes him away.
Nice sprawl there from Elkimenchi as La Cruz shoots in.
Elkimenchi has his takedown stuffed
and La Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.
Elkimenchi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Julek La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkimenchi.
La Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Elkimenchi wants to clinch up but La Cruz keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to La Cruz's calf.
Elkimenchi is looking to slow La Cruz down with leg kicks.
La Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Elkimenchi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts La Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Elkimenchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
La Cruz dives in and grabs Elkimenchi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Elkimenchi pushes down on La Cruz's head and hops out.
Elkimenchi with a lazy takedown attempt
and La Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

La Cruz darts in and clinches Elkimenchi up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkimenchi tries to circle away but La Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Elkimenchi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from La Cruz.
La Cruz tries to pull guard but Elkimenchi won't allow it.
La Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Elkimenchi walks away with a smile on his face. La Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Elkimenchi is looking to clinch.
Elkimenchi shoots and misses
and La Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Julek La Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
La Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elkimenchi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as La Cruz sprawls well. La Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Elkimenchi gets slowly back to his feet.
La Cruz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julek La Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well La Cruz 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

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