PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dave Spiteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spiteri comes into the arena with AC/DC -TNT blaring out of the sound system. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. Rafael Santa Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Spiteri
vs
Santa Cruz

172 cm
31
183 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

180 cm
36
170 lbs
29 - 25 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Spiteri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spiteri connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Santa Cruz throws a hook to the side of Spiteri's head but Spiteri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santa Cruz misses with a head kick.
Dave Spiteri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spiteri throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Santa Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Santa Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spiteri.
Santa Cruz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Spiteri scores with a jab to the head.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook.
Spiteri does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Santa Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Santa Cruz misses with a straight right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spiteri takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Santa Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Spiteri lands a hook to the side of the head.
Spiteri is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Spiteri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz is looking to slow Spiteri down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiteri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santa Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Spiteri.
Spiteri moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Spiteri misses with a body shot.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick that knocks Spiteri off balance momentarily.
Santa Cruz avoids the body shot from Spiteri.
Santa Cruz throws out a counter right but Spiteri avoids it with no problem.
Spiteri throws out a loose jab but Santa Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santa Cruz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Santa Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Santa Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Santa Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A telegraphed right hand from Spiteri misses the target.
Spiteri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spiteri avoids a punch combination nicely.

Spiteri takes the fight into the clinch.
Spiteri goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Spiteri lands a left hand that snaps the head of Santa Cruz backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.

Santa Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Spiteri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range and Spiteri settles back down.
Spiteri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spiteri misses with a few strikes there.
Spiteri throws a body kick that misses.
Santa Cruz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Spiteri lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Santa Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Santa Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santa Cruz's efforts to push away.
Santa Cruz lands a hook that snaps the head of Spiteri backwards.

Spiteri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up.

Spiteri looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Santa Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spiteri throws a big elbow that misses.
Santa Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spiteri's guard.

Santa Cruz works over Spiteri with some ground and pound from guard.
Spiteri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Santa Cruz won't allow Spiteri to sweep him here.
Spiteri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Santa Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Spiteri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spiteri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santa Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santa Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Spiteri is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santa Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spiteri wants to stand but Santa Cruz is controlling the position.
Santa Cruz won't allow Spiteri to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spiteri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Santa Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Santa Cruz postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spiteri scores with a nice head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santa Cruz throws a right hand that Spiteri ducks under and follows up with a left that Spiteri also avoids with ease.
As Santa Cruz backs away, Spiteri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Spiteri dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jab from Spiteri.
Spiteri jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Spiteri throws a sloppy body shot
and Santa Cruz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Santa Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Spiteri misses with a series of wild punches.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Dave Spiteri is winning the standup battle so far.
Spiteri moves forwards but Santa Cruz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Santa Cruz throws a wild body kick that Spiteri sees coming a mile off.
Spiteri throws a poor cross that misses
and Santa Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Cruz tries a low kick but Spiteri avoids it.
Spiteri is looking to counter punch.
Spiteri shoots in for a double leg but Santa Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santa Cruz throws a hook to the side of Spiteri's head but Spiteri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Spiteri closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santa Cruz to the mat! Santa Cruz manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spiteri postures up in Santa Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Santa Cruz blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spiteri got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santa Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Spiteri has managed to get both his arms back between Santa Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Santa Cruz is trying to keep Spiteri in close.
Spiteri throwing strikes but missing.
Santa Cruz looking to control.
Spiteri postures up and lands a big shot to Santa Cruz's brow.
Spiteri trying to control but Santa Cruz is working from the bottom.
Spiteri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santa Cruz can do to turn this around?
Spiteri throws a big right hand that misses.
Spiteri postures up and lands a big shot to Santa Cruz's brow.
Spiteri landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santa Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Spiteri throws an elbow that misses. Santa Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spiteri's guard. Nice move by Santa Cruz!

Spiteri is looking to sweep but instead, Santa Cruz has passed into half guard.
Spiteri is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Santa Cruz with the ground and pound but Spiteri uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dave Spiteri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spiteri is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Spiteri is pulling down on Santa Cruz's head to control his posture.
Santa Cruz wants to pass the guard but Spiteri is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Spiteri wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Spiteri wants to sweep but no luck.
Santa Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spiteri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Spiteri is working from the bottom.
Santa Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Spiteri pulls Santa Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Spiteri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santa Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Spiteri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Santa Cruz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Spiteri haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Santa Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Spiteri blocks nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A lazy body kick from Spiteri
and Santa Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Spiteri tries to move into range but Santa Cruz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Spiteri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Spiteri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz moves away from the strike by Spiteri.
Jab from Spiteri.
A slow jab from Spiteri misses its intended target.
Spiteri staying out of range there.
Santa Cruz misses with a double jab.
Spiteri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Spiteri punishes Santa Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Spiteri takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Spiteri gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Santa Cruz.
A punch combination from Spiteri misses.
Santa Cruz misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Santa Cruz misses.
Spiteri misses with a wild body shot.
Santa Cruz lands a head shot.
Spiteri slips a straight right by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santa Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Spiteri moves away.
A quick step to the side and Spiteri tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spiteri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Santa Cruz feints and then cracks Spiteri's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Spiteri down.
Santa Cruz tried to score with a low kick but Spiteri checks it.
Santa Cruz gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Spiteri at a distance.
Santa Cruz blocks a low kick nicely.
Spiteri swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Santa Cruz tries to land a body kick
and Spiteri counters with a straight right hand.
Santa Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!
A clash of legs there as Spiteri blocks the low kick.
It looked like Spiteri was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Santa Cruz.
Spiteri looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santa Cruz misses with a combination
and Spiteri connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Spiteri!
Spiteri misses with a looping right.
Santa Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Santa Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Santa Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spiteri throws a looping overhand right but Santa Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Spiteri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws the left hand but Spiteri avoids the punch easily.
Nice body punch from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz works Spiteri's body with a nice hook.

Spiteri shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Spiteri was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Santa Cruz struggling a bit here.
Santa Cruz dodges the ground and pound from Spiteri.
Spiteri landing strikes.

Santa Cruz is rocked!
Spiteri lands a strong strike to the head of Santa Cruz. That's dazed him! Spiteri looking to finish here. Santa Cruz is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Spiteri lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dave Spiteri!
After winning the bout, Dave Spiteri thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.