PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Danny Cruze (ranked 3900 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arsteen Berghen (ranked 7298 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Danny Cruze has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cruze
vs
Berghen

185 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Cruze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arsteen Berghen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berghen looks to throw the jab but Cruze is out of range.
Berghen has his takedown stuffed
enabling Cruze to counter with a crisp jab.
Berghen has his takedown stuffed
and Cruze counters with a stiff right hand.
Berghen misses with a takedown attempt
and Cruze counters with a nice uppercut.
Danny Cruze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arsteen Berghen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berghen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cruze counters with a stiff right hand.
Berghen with a poor takedown
and Cruze counters with a straight right hand.
Berghen throws out a leg kick but Cruze moves out of range and Berghen only half commits.
Berghen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berghen misses with an uppercut
and Cruze counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Berghen shoots and misses
and Cruze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Berghen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cruze connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruze changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Berghen with a poor takedown
and Cruze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Berghen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Berghen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Berghen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cruze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berghen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruze's half guard.
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!
Berghen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cruze is doing well to control the position and prevent Berghen from advancing to side control.
Cruze trying to hold on to Berghen's head to control him but Berghen postures up.
Berghen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Berghen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berghen works his foot free and advances to mount.

Cruze defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Berghen.
Cruze is trying to escape the mount.
Berghen controlling the pace for now.
Berghen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Berghen controlling the position easily from mount.
Berghen working Cruze over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruze can't escape the position.
Berghen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cruze hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruze tries to hold on but Berghen pushes him away.
Berghen controlling his opponent.
Cruze on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cruze tries to get out of the position.
Cruze tries to hold on but Berghen pushes him away.
Cruze is working to get back to half guard.

Berghen has hold of Cruze's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cruze manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berghen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Cruze tries to hold on but Berghen pushes him away.
Cruze definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Berghen lands a couple of good shots and Cruze has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Cruze is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arsteen Berghen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Berghen drives through with a takedown into Cruze's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cruze is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cruze knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Berghen on the ground.

Berghen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Berghen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berghen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cruze on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Berghen in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berghen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cruze tries to kick Berghen off but Berghen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Berghen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Berghen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruze wants to improve his position but Berghen is controlling well.
Berghen drops an elbow to the side of Cruze's head.
Berghen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruze is trying to maintain the position but Berghen is very close to passing his half guard.
Cruze tries to roll over but Berghen keeps him under control.
Cruze has hold of Berghen's hands but Berghen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berghen working Cruze over with strikes.
Well, if Berghen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cruze trying to control from the bottom.
Berghen not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berghen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruze wants to get back to his feet.
Cruze keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cruze tries to get to full guard but Berghen has control of the leg.
Cruze is trying to maintain the position but Berghen is very close to passing his half guard.
Berghen uses his free foot to push down on Cruze's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cruze.
Cruze wants to control but Berghen is having none of it.
Arsteen Berghen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruze looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Berghen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruze tries to reverse the position but Berghen maintains control.
Cruze tries to hold on but Berghen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berghen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Berghen landing punches.
Berghen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Berghen landing strikes from the mount and Cruze is in trouble!
Berghen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Berghen quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Berghen but it's paid off an Cruze is forced to tap! Nice work by Berghen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arsteen Berghen!