PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Elwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elwood comes to the cage accompanied by Ice Cube - Why We Thugs. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elwood
vs
Santa Cruz

180 cm
30
170 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

180 cm
37
170 lbs
29 - 26 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Elwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz tries to clinch but Elwood moves out of range.
Elwood misses with the combination.
Elwood wants to clinch up but Santa Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Santa Cruz connects with a right hand. Elwood shakes it off.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Santa Cruz has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Santa Cruz lunges at Elwood with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Elwood's hand.
Elwood tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Elwood throws a poor cross that misses
and Santa Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Elwood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santa Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Elwood tries a head kick but it misses.
Elwood looks to land a combination. Santa Cruz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body kick from Santa Cruz.
Elwood misses with a jab, cross combination.
Elwood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Santa Cruz counters with an outside leg kick.
Elwood misses with a jab to the body
enabling Santa Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santa Cruz is looking to slow Elwood down with leg kicks.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick that knocks Elwood off balance momentarily.
Elwood throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Elwood throws a body kick that misses.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Santa Cruz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Elwood momentarily.
Elwood tries a head kick but it misses.
Elwood rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santa Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Cruz tests Elwood's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santa Cruz connects with a leg kick. Elwood looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Santa Cruz.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Cruz scores with a nice head shot.
Elwood misses with a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santa Cruz.
Elwood chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santa Cruz can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Elwood lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santa Cruz doesn't seem phased though.
A good leg kick by Santa Cruz.
Elwood misses with a wild combination.
Santa Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Elwood.
Santa Cruz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Santa Cruz misses with a hook.
Elwood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Elwood tries to bum rush Santa Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santa Cruz dodges the punch combination from Elwood.
A lazy left from Santa Cruz finds it's target.
Elwood is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Santa Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Elwood.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking kick to the body. Elwood takes a step back to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elwood throws a head kick that misses
enabling Santa Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Santa Cruz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Elwood is rocked!
Santa Cruz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Oh Elwood is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Elwood is breathing heavily.
Santa Cruz throws an overhand right that drops Elwood like a sack of potatoes! Santa Cruz dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rafael Santa Cruz!
An out of breath Rafael Santa Cruz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.