PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darko Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arslan Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cruz
vs
Rashid

165 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darko Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arslan Rashid!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rashid misses with a takedown attempt
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rashid tries to work over Cruz's front leg with a kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Rashid throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rashid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rashid fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Rashid saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Cruz backs off Rashid throws a huge counter combo but Cruz manages to avoid it all.
Rashid fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rashid dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Rashid looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz misses with a hook to the body

and Rashid counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cruz!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rashid.
Rashid wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rashid postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rashid pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz seems keen to control Rashid's posture.
Cruz definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cruz continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rashid is aware though and is defending well.
Rashid slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rashid makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rashid postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Rashid lands a couple of elbows.
Rashid prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Rashid postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rashid's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rashid defends well.
Rashid is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rashid working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rashid working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Rashid scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rashid lands a couple of digs.
Cruz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rashid content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rashid throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Rashid is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is pulling down on Rashid's head to control his posture.
Cruz has momentary wrist control but Rashid slips an elbow through the middle.
Rashid trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Rashid distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rashid working some strikes from top position.
Rashid wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Rashid content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rashid working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Rashid stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz misses with a low kick.
Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Rashid gets double underhooks and turns Cruz into the cage.
Rashid darts in looking for a takedown but Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Rashid into the cage.
Rashid throws a leg kick

so Cruz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rashid keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Rashid is looking for the big counter here.
Darko Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rashid as he avoids it easily.
Rashid tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darko Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz tries to sprawl but Rashid drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Cruz has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rashid is on him like a limpet, forcing Cruz back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rashid tries to circle away but Cruz has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz manages to pull guard.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Rashid distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rashid postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rashid lands a couple of elbows.
Rashid controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rashid preventing the sweep.
Rashid postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rashid preventing the sweep.
Rashid trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rashid in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rashid cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Rashid has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
Rashid is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rashid passes Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rashid lands a couple of elbows.

Rashid got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rashid has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Rashid is in close to Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rashid content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rashid's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Rashid from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rashid is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Rashid landing some decent shots from guard.

Rashid has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Cruz to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Rashid is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Cruz pulls down on the head and he's put Rashid to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Darko Cruz!
After the fight, Darko Cruz was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.