PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Cruz (ranked 2650 p4p, 287 weight class) and Tommy Shelby (ranked 1590 p4p, 188 weight class). Ricardo Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Shelby

181 cm
28
165 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

176 cm
24
155 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Shelby!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz instigates a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shelby.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shelby's elbow.
Shelby tries a body shot but Cruz blocks it.
Shelby misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shelby tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shelby misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shelby lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shelby.
Cruz'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.
Shelby can't find room to land a body shot as Cruz controls the action.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Shelby.
Cruz throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.
Shelby lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nice body punch from Shelby - that landed with a thud.
Shelby lands a hook that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shelby.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shelby scores with a shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Shelby misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Shelby fails to land.
Cruz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shelby takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shelby lands a right hand.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Shelby blocks it.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shelby lands a really nice looking cross but Cruz seems unphased.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Shelby lands a jab to Cruz's midsection.

Shelby takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz blocks a body shot from Shelby.
Shelby works on Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
Shelby has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Shelby on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shelby.
Shelby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shelby tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shelby has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cruz seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shelby can turn it around.
Shelby tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.
Nice body punch from Shelby - that landed with a thud.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Shelby.
Shelby lands with a light punch inside.
Shelby lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cruz blocks a body shot from Shelby.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Shelby is blocking nicely.
Shelby pushes Cruz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shelby misses with a punch to the body.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shelby smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shelby digs a good hook to Cruz's body.
Shelby connects with the punch.
Shelby scores with a body shot.

Shelby clinches up against the cage.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shelby can't find room to land a body shot as Cruz controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shelby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz crunches a lovely knee into Shelby's ribcage.
Shelby scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shelby lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shelby throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.
Nice body punch from Cruz - that landed with a thud.
Shelby avoiding damage as Cruz throws knees to the body.
Shelby lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Shelby tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cruz's elbow.
Shelby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shelby lands a nice shot to the body.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shelby is keeping busy.
Shelby scores with a hook to the body.
Shelby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Shelby lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Shelby.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cruz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shelby is defending well for now.
Shelby lands with a right to the head.
Shelby digs a right hand into Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cruz's gas tank.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
A shot in the inside from Shelby.
Shelby lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Shelby.

Cruz is rocked!
Nice body punch from Shelby.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shelby works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shelby lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Shelby.
Shelby is working Cruz over against the cage.
Shelby cracks Cruz with a nice body shot.
Shelby pushes Cruz against the cage. Shelby is working some dirty boxing. Shelby pushes off with a quick right hook! Cruz goes down! Cruz tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Shelby moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tommy Shelby!