PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe The Doctor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darko Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe The Doctor could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Darko Cruz's chin.

The Doctor
vs
Cruz

150 cm
25
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 The Island, Joe The Doctor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darko Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz shoots in and bounces The Doctor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cruz is in close to The Doctor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The Doctor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

The Doctor trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Doctor sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cruz wants to sweep here but The Doctor controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The Doctor wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as The Doctor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The Doctor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cruz pulls The Doctor in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The Doctor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around The Doctor's waist but The Doctor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
No luck for The Doctor with that takedown attempt.
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Doctor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but The Doctor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cruz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Cruz decides to stand back up. Cruz steps back and let's The Doctor get back to his feet.
The Doctor misses with an attempted mid kick.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The Doctor tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The Doctor tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz trying to control the action but The Doctor is working from the bottom.

The Doctor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The Doctor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
The Doctor wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz leaves The Doctor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darko Cruz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz misses with some punches.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but The Doctor has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz jumps guard but The Doctor stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The Doctor being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but The Doctor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Joe The Doctor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darko Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Doctor keeps the fight on the outside.
The Doctor throws a head kick that misses.

The Doctor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cruz did well to prevent The Doctor getting side control.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.
Cruz is trying to control the position but The Doctor postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The Doctor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
The Doctor passes into half guard.
The Doctor wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The Doctor stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The Doctor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by The Doctor.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but The Doctor defends well and Cruz ends up having to push The Doctor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
The Doctor misses with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz is looking to clinch but The Doctor is avoiding it.
The Doctor feinted with a counter takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from The Doctor.

The Doctor drives through with a takedown into Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Doctor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The Doctor lands a head kick. Cruz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cruz dives in and grabs The Doctor's left leg, looking for a takedown. The Doctor pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but The Doctor defends well and Cruz ends up having to push The Doctor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The Doctor attempts a counter takedown but Cruz avoids it well and moves away.

The Doctor drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Cruz is struggling to control the position.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from The Doctor.
Cruz jumps guard but The Doctor stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz has The Doctor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. The Doctor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The Doctor jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The Doctor is struggling to control the position.
Cruz jumps guard but The Doctor stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The Doctor has hold of one of Cruz's legs. Cruz is fighting the takedown attempt but The Doctor gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe The Doctor dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has The Doctor pinned against the cage. The Doctor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The Doctor drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruz sprawls and moves away.

The Doctor takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Doctor's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

The Doctor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Doctor has a takedown stuffed.
The Doctor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The Doctor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cruz 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.
The Doctor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but The Doctor sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe The Doctor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darko Cruz.

The Doctor darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.

Cruz gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz drags the fight down to the ground.

The Doctor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The Doctor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Doctor wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The Doctor closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but The Doctor is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Doctor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.

The Doctor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
The Doctor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. The Doctor didn't expect that.

The Doctor uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Doctor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

The Doctor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cruz has hold of The Doctor's hands but The Doctor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The Doctor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cruz is staying active underneath The Doctor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The Doctor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe The Doctor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well The Doctor 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe The Doctor!