PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Gorman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melvin Gorman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cruz
vs
Gorman

180 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Melvin Gorman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorman wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Gorman looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gorman circles away.
Gorman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Gorman.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gorman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Gorman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gorman has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
No joy there for Gorman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gorman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries a body shot but Gorman blocks it.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gorman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gorman tries a body shot but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Gorman's takedown attempt.
Gorman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Gorman looking for a takedown.
Cruz stalls.

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.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorman looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Gorman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gorman off to one side.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.

Cruz moves into the clinch.

Cruz drags the fight down to the ground.
Cruz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gorman trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Gorman is having none of it.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gorman trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gorman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz tries to clinch but Gorman is having none of it.
Gorman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cruz backs up against the cage.
Gorman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Melvin Gorman will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gorman swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gorman defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Gorman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gorman unleashes a big counter combination but Cruz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Melvin Gorman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gorman is looking to chop away at Cruz's legs.
Melvin Gorman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gorman scores with the left hand. Cruz knows he should have avoided that one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Gorman sprawls well.
Gorman shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gorman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gorman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz tries to counter by clinching up but Gorman breaks away and moves out of range.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gorman manages to avoid it.
Gorman takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cruz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gorman, pushing him back against the cage.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Gorman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

Gorman darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Gorman lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Gorman.
Gorman lands a right hand.
Gorman is looking for a takedown.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gorman prevents it.
Cruz tries to break free but Gorman pushes him back against the cage.
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 Gorman walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!

Gorman closes the distance and clinches.
Gorman trying to land knees to the body.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gorman to keep the fight standing.
Gorman wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gorman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorman has Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gorman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gorman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gorman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz tries to counter with a takedown but Gorman is quick to defend against it.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Gorman, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Gorman against the cage but Gorman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gorman fails with a takedown attempt.
Gorman tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Gorman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gorman tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Gorman gets the takedown into side control.
Gorman taking a breather here.
Cruz is trying to control Gorman's posture but Gorman avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Gorman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gorman circles away.
Gorman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gorman's waist but Gorman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
Gorman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Gorman. Gorman gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gorman shoots in but no luck this time.
Stephen Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Gorman.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Gorman manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gorman shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Gorman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz goes for a double leg but Gorman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gorman continues to drive forward.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gorman sprawls well. Gorman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorman is defended easily by Cruz.
Cruz throws a leg kick but Gorman moved away.
Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gorman stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Gorman appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Gorman lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gorman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gorman has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Gorman won't allow it.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gorman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gorman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gorman is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gorman down to the mat. Gorman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gorman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gorman pinned against the cage. Gorman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch
and Gorman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gorman fails with a takedown attempt.
Gorman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gorman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz throws a big counter combination but Gorman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz tries to stall but Gorman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice left hand lands by Gorman.
Gorman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gorman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz jumps guard but Gorman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gorman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gorman lands with a right to the head.
Stephen Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Melvin Gorman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cruz missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Gorman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gorman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melvin Gorman!