PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezequiel Cruz (ranked 24656 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Rocket (ranked 8132 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezequiel Cruz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cruz
vs
Rocket

180 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ezequiel Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Otto Rocket!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rocket instigates a clinch.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Cruz pulls Rocket into guard.
Rocket sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rocket missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rocket throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rocket's guard. Nice move by Cruz!

Rocket throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rocket looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocket working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cruz has passed into side control.

Cruz decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rocket dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz is looking for a counter combo.

Rocket closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.

Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Rocket pushes his legs off easily.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rocket gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rocket must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rocket avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Rocket defends easily.
Cruz really is a fat lump.

Cruz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rocket has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to kick Rocket off but Rocket keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Rocket seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rocket throws a strike but Cruz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Rocket defends easily.
Cruz has a closed guard, preventing Rocket from standing up.
Rocket throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rocket pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz is looking to clinch but Rocket is avoiding it.
Cruz leaves Rocket with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rocket forces Cruz back against the cage and clinches.

Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.

Rocket stands up from Cruz's guard - Rocket perhaps looking for a knockout.
Otto Rocket seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocket shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Rocket's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Rocket keeps it at a distance.

Rocket pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Rocket trying to stall but Cruz improves his position.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Rocket tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
Ezequiel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Rocket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rocket walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cruz gets a clinch.
Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rocket avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rocket tightens his grip and picks Cruz up, before dumping him to the ground. Cruz manages to land in guard.

Rocket drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cruz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cruz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cruz!

Rocket is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz wants to stand but Rocket is controlling his arm.

Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Cruz decides to stand back up.
Rocket shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Rocket's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rocket is breathing heavily.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ezequiel Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rocket tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cruz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ezequiel Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rocket's shoulder. That is not cool.
Cruz grinds an elbow into Rocket's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rocket is trying to improve his position.
Rocket on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rocket is looking to regain half guard here but Cruz keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cruz decides to stand back up.

Rocket moves into range and clinches up with Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezequiel Cruz dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rocket did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rocket keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rocket trying to control but Cruz postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz winds up and cracks Rocket with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rocket doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rocket trying to control but Cruz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Rocket's head.
Rocket taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Rocket taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Rocket is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Rocket is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rocket has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz escapes and gets back to his feet.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rocket tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Rocket's guard.
Rocket takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rocket looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz is in close to Rocket's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cruz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rocket is proving hard to escape from.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocket has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rocket stalling against the cage.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rocket walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rocket sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rocket feints the counter takedown.

Rocket closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Rocket forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezequiel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Rocket has him pressed against the cage.

Cruz jumps into guard, dragging Rocket to the mat.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rocket postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cruz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rocket, into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezequiel 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

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