PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Cruz (ranked 24318 p4p, 697 weight class) and Creg Green (ranked 7494 p4p, 621 weight class). Mark Cruz looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cruz
vs
Green

180 cm
19
176 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

170 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Creg Green!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Green.
Green should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Green misses with a head kick.
As Green tries to get set, Cruz tries to push him back and clinch up but Green manages to avoid the attempt.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Green's head but Green sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Green tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Cruz - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Green tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Green is trying to pull guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Green looks winded!
Cruz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Green blocks it with crossed arms.
Green wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Green's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cruz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Green's face.
Green is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.

Green's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Green looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Green tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Green looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Green persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Mark Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Creg Green.

Cruz gets a clinch.
The referee calls for Cruz to work.
Cruz lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz avoiding damage.
Green takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Green is blocking nicely.
Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz effectively controlling the action here.
A frustrated look appears on Green's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Green wants to break free but Cruz has control.
Green is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Green takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cruz with a knee to the head.
Green changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Green gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.
Cruz lands a knee to the head.
Cruz landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Green drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Green.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Green's takedown attempt.
Green being controlled against the cage.
Green tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruz smiles and moves away.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Green is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Green tries to score a body lock takedown but Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Green has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cruz.
Cruz lands a damaging elbow.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
Green looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cruz connects with a knee to the head.
Cruz landing knees to the body.
Green can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz connects with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Green can do to turn this around?
Green struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Green's face.
Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Green has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cruz down to the mat. Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mark Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Creg Green.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Green, pushing him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Green backwards.
Cruz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Green.
Cruz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A knee to the head by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Green breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Green looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Green tries to get set, Cruz tries to push him back and clinch up but Green manages to avoid the attempt.
Green tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Green tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Green tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Green tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Green moves out of range.

Green clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mark Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Green's takedown attempt.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Green is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Green wants to break free but Cruz has control.
Green wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cruz looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Green tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Green drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Green pulls guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Green trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Cruz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Green tries to pull guard but Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually Green drops back down to his feet.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cruz putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Green in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Green's elbow.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Green's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Green controls his hands.
Cruz is struggling to control the position.
Cruz lands with a short shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cruz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Green blocks an elbow strike from Cruz.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but Green blocks with his arms.
Cruz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Green.
Mark Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Creg Green.
Cruz lands with a light punch inside.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Green jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz stalls.
Cruz lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Green is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.
Green takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Green blocks it.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Green tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruz smiles and moves away.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Green avoids the elbow strike from Cruz, against the cage.
Green has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz connects with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cruz obliges.
Green jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Green tries to pull guard but Cruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Creg Green has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Green wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
Green tries to score a body lock takedown but Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz scores with a knee to the head.
Green tries to pull guard but Cruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cruz stalling against the cage.
Green tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz scores a nice knee to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Cruz.
Mark Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Green tries for a takedown. No joy.
Green tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:25
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:25

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