PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Henri Joel Ajanlekoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henri Joel Ajanlekoko had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Henri Joel Ajanlekoko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Joel Ajanlekoko
vs
Cruz

168 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henri Joel Ajanlekoko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brandon Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ajanlekoko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Ajanlekoko.
Ajanlekoko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!
Ajanlekoko takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ajanlekoko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ajanlekoko scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz scores with a push kick.
Henri Joel Ajanlekoko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cruz's coach down at CT + BJJ & Wrestling & Boxing & MT SPARRING GYM was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cruz's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Ajanlekoko closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the ropes.

Ajanlekoko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cruz.
Some wild striking there from Ajanlekoko.
Ajanlekoko scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajanlekoko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cruz gets tackled into the ropes by Ajanlekoko. Ajanlekoko maintains the clinch.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Ajanlekoko is controlling the position.

Ajanlekoko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ajanlekoko misses with a double jab.
Ajanlekoko tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Cruz lands a nice looking body kick.

Ajanlekoko drives through and clinches with Cruz against the ropes.

Ajanlekoko manages to break the clinch.
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ajanlekoko's sensitive parts.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ajanlekoko.
Cruz unleashes a big counter combination but Ajanlekoko bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ajanlekoko takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ajanlekoko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ajanlekoko is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Ajanlekoko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick that Ajanlekoko semi-blocks.
Ajanlekoko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ajanlekoko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Cruz bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. Ajanlekoko shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cruz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ajanlekoko misses with a straight right.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ajanlekoko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cruz lands a head kick. Ajanlekoko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Ajanlekoko is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Cruz stalks Ajanlekoko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ajanlekoko's face. Ajanlekoko staggers backwards, shaken.
Oh Ajanlekoko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cruz lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ajanlekoko.
Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ajanlekoko seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Ajanlekoko.
Ajanlekoko throws a one two combo.
Ajanlekoko tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz scores with a head kick.
Ajanlekoko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Ajanlekoko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Ajanlekoko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ajanlekoko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cruz. Cruz obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ajanlekoko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.
Cruz lands a head kick. Ajanlekoko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ajanlekoko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ajanlekoko's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ajanlekoko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Despite the aggression on Cruz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Ajanlekoko moves out of range.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Ajanlekoko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ajanlekoko prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.

Ajanlekoko breaks the clinch.
Cruz scores with a head kick. Ajanlekoko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ajanlekoko circles away quickly and effectively.
A counter left hand to the body from Ajanlekoko misses its target.

Ajanlekoko forces Cruz back against the ropes and clinches.

Ajanlekoko breaks the clinch.
A head kick from Cruz lands but Ajanlekoko takes it in his stride.
Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cruz keeps Ajanlekoko at a distance using the push kick.
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 showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ajanlekoko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajanlekoko throws a combination that misses
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Brandon Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ajanlekoko misses with a double jab
and as Ajanlekoko takes a moment to reset, Cruz counters with a massive combo! Right, left, right! Ajanlekoko goes down! He's in big trouble, can he recover? 3,4,5,6,7,8,9....10. He's out! Cruz is your winner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Brandon Cruz!