PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Chris Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hernandez
vs
Cruz

174 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brandon Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cruz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hernandez.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Hernandez moves out of range easily.
It looked like Hernandez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hernandez throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat.
Hernandez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cruz.
Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Hernandez moves into the clinch.

Hernandez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hernandez forces Cruz back against the ropes and clinches.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Hernandez rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hernandez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cruz tries to circle away but Hernandez has him pinned against the ropes.
Hernandez tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Hernandez back against the ropes.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Hernandez pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Hernandez is controlling him.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hernandez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Hernandez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Hernandez.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hernandez moves into the clinch.
Hernandez effectively controlling the action here.
Hernandez tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Hernandez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Hernandez is controlling him.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz is trying to push Hernandez away but Hernandez has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Hernandez misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hernandez clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the ropes.
Hernandez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hernandez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cruz's efforts to push away.

Hernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Hernandez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Hernandez throws an elbow that misses.

Hernandez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brandon Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hernandez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hernandez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz scores with a three punch combo!
Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Some bone on bone action there as Cruz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Hernandez.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Hernandez.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Hernandez is looking to clinch.

Hernandez instigates a clinch.
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 looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Chris Hernandez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Hernandez avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the ropes.

Hernandez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hernandez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Hernandez backing up. Hernandez nods at Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz lands a leg kick that knocks Hernandez off balance momentarily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cruz.
Cruz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
Cruz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hernandez's calf.
Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Hernandez in the body.
Hernandez is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Hernandez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hernandez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 misses with a head kick.
Hernandez tries to clinch up
and Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Hernandez backing up. Hernandez nods at Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Hernandez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hernandez is looking to clinch.
Hernandez avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. Hernandez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cruz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hernandez.
Nice body kick from Cruz.
Cruz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hernandez's head.
Chris Hernandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hernandez.
Cruz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hernandez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cruz can pounce on him.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crunch! Cruz slams his shin into Hernandez's torso.

Hernandez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Hernandez tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Hernandez back against the ropes.
Hernandez scores with a shoulder strike.
Hernandez blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Hernandez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cruz up against the ropes.
Cruz avoiding damage as Hernandez throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hernandez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernandez managing to block the knees to the body from Cruz.
Hernandez stalls.

Hernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Hernandez clinches with his opponent.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hernandez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cruz really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Hernandez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz throws a nice head kick!
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hernandez avoids the head kick by Cruz.
A head kick misses from Hernandez.
Hernandez will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Cruz gets tackled into the ropes by Hernandez. Hernandez maintains the clinch.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Hernandez won't allow it.
Cruz is trying to push Hernandez away but Hernandez has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez is struggling to control the position.
Cruz wants to break free but Hernandez has control.
Hernandez tries to stall but Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hernandez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hernandez has him pressed against the ropes.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Hernandez keeps him there for the moment.

Hernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brandon Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hernandez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hernandez tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
A good leg kick by Cruz.
Hernandez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Hernandez avoids them all with ease.
Hernandez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.

Hernandez closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the ropes.
Hernandez trying to control the position but instead, Cruz has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hernandez into the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hernandez blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hernandez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cruz.
Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz tries to bum rush Hernandez with a series of wild strikes but Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hernandez throws a counter high kick but Cruz was just alert enough to avoid it.
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 will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hernandez is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cruz dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz misses with a body kick.
Hernandez lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Hernandez avoids it well.
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a one two combo.
Hernandez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cruz on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hernandez wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Hernandez.

Hernandez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hernandez breaks from the clinch.
Hernandez is looking to clinch.
Cruz throws a counter combo.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Hernandez.
Hernandez tries to land a leg kick but Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Cruz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hernandez throws a head kick that misses.
Hernandez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cruz. That one must have hurt.
Hernandez misses with a wild body shot.
Hernandez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a head kick. Hernandez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hernandez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hernandez has managed to clinch.
Cruz avoids a wild elbow strike from Hernandez.

Hernandez manages to break the clinch.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hernandez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cruz is looking to slow Hernandez down with leg kicks.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hernandez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hernandez swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 45:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Cruz!