PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randall Steve (ranked 1371 p4p, 199 weight class) and Danny Cruze (ranked 2213 p4p, 316 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Steve
vs
Cruze

183 cm
20
170 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Randall Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Cruze!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruze staying out of range there.
Cruze's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Steve connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cruze scrambles back to his feet.
Cruze swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Steve.
Steve swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruze appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Steve defending well as Cruze loads up on a big left hand.
Steve blocks a jab.
Steve avoids the body shot from Cruze.
Steve throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruze sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve throws a shot from downtown. Cruze moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Steve darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cruze has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cruze uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Steve connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruze moves away from the strike by Steve.
Steve takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruze was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
Cruze throws a body shot but no joy.
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!
Steve avoids the body shot from Cruze.
It looked like Steve was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cruze.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Cruze uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steve dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Steve defending well as Cruze loads up on a big left hand.
Cruze misses with a body shot.
Cruze misses with a wild body shot.
Cruze is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Steve rather than just go for the knockout.
Steve blocks a jab.
Cruze takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruze.
Cruze scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Steve doesn't seem bothered though.
Steve throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruze.
Cruze moves out of range of the strikes.
Jab by Steve.
Steve throws a shot from downtown. Cruze moves away and avoids it.
Cruze appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Cruze throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruze doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cruze swings for the body but Steve moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steve takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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!
Steve scores with a hook.

Cruze rushes Steve and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steve lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steve lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Cruze.
Cruze digs a right hand into Steve's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Steve's gas tank.
Cruze lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Cruze is controlling him.
Steve is trying to break the clinch but Cruze is controlling him.
Cruze lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Steve or not.
Cruze lands a shoulder strike.
Cruze keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Steve's efforts to push away.
Cruze lands with a right to the head.
Cruze cracks Steve with a nice body shot.
Cruze has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.
Steve misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands with a short shot to the head.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cruze backwards.
Cruze softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cruze has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.

Cruze manages to break the clinch.
Cruze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruze throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Cruze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steve throwing a counter right hand but Cruze manages to avoid it.
A jab from Steve misses.
Some wild striking there from Steve.
Jab by Steve.
A slow jab from Cruze misses its intended target.
Steve looks to land a right hand but Cruze moved out of range.
Cruze looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Steve lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruze steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve.
Steve misses with a body shot
and Steve takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve misses with a looping left.
Steve scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Randall Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Cruze misses.
Cruze just misses with a punch to the body.
Steve appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruze throws a hook to the side of Steve's head but Steve sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruze looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Steve sizes up Cruze with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Steve dips to his left and cracks Cruze with an uppercut!

Cruze moves into the clinch.
Cruze misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steve's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cruze keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Steve's efforts to push away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruze misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruze throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cruze.
Steve lands a nice shot to the body.
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 Randall Steve will probably get the nod.
That's time! Steve's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A cross from Steve lands.
Jab from Steve.
Cruze scores with a one two! Steve had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Steve punishes Cruze's body with a nice straight punch.
Cruze fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruze uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steve.
Cruze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve misses with an uppercut.
Steve cracks a nice hook into Cruze's ribs.
Cruze slips a straight right by Steve.
Cruze ducks under a wild hook from Steve.
Cruze looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sloppy strikes from Steve. Those never looked like landing.
Cruze throws a jab when Steve was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruze takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cruze slips a jab from Steve.
Steve moves into range and connects with a jab.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruze moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve throws a series of punches but Cruze moves out of range.
Cruze unleashes a big counter combination but Steve bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cruze throws an overhand right that lands on Steve's shoulder, as Steve tries to avoid the shot.
Steve feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cruzes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Steve fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Steve swings for the body but Cruze moves out of range.
Cruze swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Randall Steve is winning the standup battle so far.
Steve throws a big shot that misses.
Steve looks to land a right hand but Cruze moved out of range.
Cruze misses with an uppercut.
Cruze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruze takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cruze ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve moves away.
Steve lands a right hook to the body.
Steve misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruze missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruze takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruze counters with a straight right hand.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruze was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
A jab from Cruze misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Cruze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Steve avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruze fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruze moves out of range as Steve strikes.
Steve drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Steve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruze looks to land a combination but Steve avoids it well.
Steve lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruze takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Good shot there by Steve.
Steve lands a nice hook to Cruze's body. Cruze takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Steve swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cruze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Cruze.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruze moves away.
Cruze needs to keep his hands up - Steve had a free shot at his head there.
Steve scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A big left from Steve misses.
Steve fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cruze on the side of the head.
No joy there for Steve, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Steve throws a shot from downtown. Cruze moves away and avoids it.
Steve connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruze takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cruze takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A jab from Cruze misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruze missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve lands a head shot.

Cruze closes the distance and clinches.
Cruze lands a nice shot to the body.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Cruze.
Cruze scores with a shot to the side of Steve's head.
Steve wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steve.
Danny Cruze seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cruze'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.
Cruze lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Still in the clinch, Cruze scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve lands with a left to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A body shot lands from Cruze.
Steve has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruze lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cruze is trying to maintain a safe position but Steve gets an underhook and turns Cruze into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Steve dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Cruze swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Steve counters with a nice body shot.
Steve misses with an uppercut

and Cruze moves into the clinch.
Steve tries to break the clinch but Cruze is controlling the position.
Cruze scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cruze misses with some punches.
Cruze working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruze misses with the head strike.
Cruze lands with a right to the head.
Cruze goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steve looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruze tries to stall but Steve uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruze has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.

Cruze escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruze has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cruze slips a straight right by Steve.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruze has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Steve finds it's way round the side to connect with Cruze's head.
Cruze waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Steve lands a right hook to the body.
Cruze ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve avoids the body shot from Cruze.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve misses with a straight right.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve slips under a jab from Cruze.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Cruze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruze misses with a shot to the body
and Steve counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruze scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cruze takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cruze throws a body shot but no joy.
Steve throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Cruze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruze steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Steve.
A punch combination from Steve misses.
Steve lands a jab to Cruze's midsection.
Steve avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steve swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Steve connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cruze's hands.
Steve slips a jab from Cruze.
Danny Cruze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruze.
Cruze throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Sloppy strikes from Steve. Those never looked like landing.
Steve misses with a looping right.
Cruze showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Steve.
Cruze throws out a counter right but Steve avoids it with no problem.
Jab by Steve.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruze has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Steve finds it's way round the side to connect with Cruze's head.
Nice defenses there by Cruze.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruze.
Cruze takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steve looks to throw the jab but Cruze is out of range.
Randall Steve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruze moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steve misses with a two punch combination.
Cruze misses with a body shot.
It looked like Steve wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Steve lands a jab to Cruze's midsection.
Cruze missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve throws a body punch but Cruze moves out of range.
Cruze throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Steve scores with a hook to the body. Cruze takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cruze throws a big shot that misses.
Cruze swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruze moves away from the strike by Steve.
Steve misses with an uppercut. Cruze saw that one coming.
Cruze now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steve displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruze throws out the jab.
A lazy left from Cruze finds it's target.
Steve connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cruze. Cruze circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve scores with a jab to the 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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruze. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve scores with a jab to the head.
Steve throws a good cross that connects.
Steve scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cruze slips under a jab from Steve.
Cruze misses with a left hand
and Steve makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cruze staying out of range there.
Cruze throws a body punch but Steve moves out of range.
Cruze throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve.
Cruze misses with a hook
and Steve counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruze takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A jab from Steve does it's job there.
Cruze keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steve.
Steve walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Steve showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steve, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Steve!
Randall Steve thanked the fans post fight for their support.