PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonny King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Jr De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

King
vs
Jr De La Cruz

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Jonny King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leo Jr De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
King closes the distance and clinches up with De La Cruz, looking for a takedown. King pushes De La Cruz against the cage but De La Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
De La Cruz misses with a body shot.
King displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from De La Cruz.
De La Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

De La Cruz gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from De La Cruz.
Jonny King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Jr De La Cruz.

De La Cruz jumps guard and drags King to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
De La Cruz working a defensive guard but King passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows De La Cruz to get to his feet.
King walks into a jab.
De La Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King tries to avoid it but De La Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King to the ground. King escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
King shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De La Cruz pinned against the cage. De La Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De La Cruz shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
De La Cruz fails to land the takedown.

King has De La Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
De La Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but King has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz is trying to break the clinch but King is controlling him.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
De La Cruz tries to clinch but King is having none of it.

De La Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King fails with the takedown.
De La Cruz fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
De La Cruz looks winded!
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with De La Cruz but De La Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
De La Cruz is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for De La Cruz on that attempt.
De La Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De La Cruz tries to counter by closing the distance.

King has closed the distance and engaged De La Cruz in a clinch.
King is working De La Cruz over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for De La Cruz.

King pulls De La Cruz into guard.
King looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but De La Cruz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
De La Cruz is just content to waste time from the top position. King takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De La Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jonny King will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

De La Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and King counters with a stiff right hand.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. King defends it nicely.
King tries to counter by moving into the clinch but De La Cruz manages to circle out of the way.
King fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but De La Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
King fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King goes for a double leg but De La Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De La Cruz continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King tries to clinch there but De La Cruz circles away.
De La Cruz tries to clinch there but King circles away.
King went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for King, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
De La Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nice shot lands for King.
Jonny King is winning the standup battle so far.
De La Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
De La Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
De La Cruz sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
King tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De La Cruz swivels and escapes.
Jonny King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De La Cruz darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz lands a jab-cross combination.
De La Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from De La Cruz. No joy for King on that attempt.
De La Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but King sprawls well. He's pushed De La Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
King shoots in for a takedown but De La Cruz shows good takedown defense.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King leaves De La Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De La Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
King throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
De La Cruz throws a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from De La Cruz.
King was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from De La Cruz.
King misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from De La Cruz.
De La Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
De La Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
King throws a quick counter kick to the body but De La Cruz avoids it.
King defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De La Cruz.
King buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
De La Cruz tries to clinch up.
De La Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from King.
De La Cruz wants to counter with a clinch but King pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.

King gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
De La Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De La Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
De La Cruz tries to stall but King uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
King wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. De La Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De La Cruz tries for a takedown but King sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny King dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

King moves into range and clinches up with De La Cruz.
De La Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but King gets the underhooks and prevents it.
De La Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

De La Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics King uses from the top position.
King wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.
De La Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but De La Cruz has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De La Cruz is keeping the position for now.
King stays in close to De La Cruz's body and controls the position.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as De La Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
King stuffs the takedown.
A counter left hand to the body from King misses its target.
De La Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
De La Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for King with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

King has De La Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
King displaying some good clinch control by pressing De La Cruz up against the cage.
De La Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jonny King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Jr De La Cruz.
Come on King - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
King jumps guard but De La Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
King is trying to work for a single leg takedown but De La Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
King is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
De La Cruz prevents a body shot from King.

King manages to pull guard.

King working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because De La Cruz has passed into half guard!
De La Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
King tries to get to full guard but De La Cruz has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King keeps control of the position for the meantime.
De La Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but King keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De La Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. King defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well King 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny King!