PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Cruz (ranked 24550 p4p, 754 weight class) and Tony Sanchez (ranked 25388 p4p, 757 weight class). Mark Cruz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tony Sanchez's chin.

Cruz
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
20
176 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

200 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 5 - 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Sanchez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cruz into the cage.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Sanchez.
Cruz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sanchez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sanchez trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz has Sanchez pressed against the cage.
Cruz is stalling here.
Sanchez wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Sanchez.
Sanchez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz avoiding damage as Sanchez throws knees to the body.
Cruz avoiding damage as Sanchez throws knees to the body.
Sanchez is stalling here.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Cruz will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sanchez up against the cage.
Sanchez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cruz is keeping busy.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz is stalling here.
Sanchez is struggling to control the position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Sanchez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cruz into the cage.
Cruz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an elbow over the top.
Cruz stalling.
Sanchez looking to stall.
Sanchez trying to control the position but instead, Cruz has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sanchez into the cage.
Sanchez is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Cruz has denied him.
Sanchez is looking to control Cruz's arms but Cruz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sanchez has his back to the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Sanchez.

Cruz clinches.
Sanchez lands a body punch.
Sanchez stalling.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Cruz blocking some punches.
Sanchez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez looks winded!
Cruz is trying to maintain a safe position but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns Cruz into the cage.
Sanchez avoiding damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cruz as Sanchez tries to tie him up.
Sanchez being controlled against the cage.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez managing to block the knees to the body from Cruz.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanchez controls his hands.
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 Mark Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A big left from Cruz misses.

Cruz darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the cage.
Cruz throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sanchez content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sanchez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cruz has Sanchez pressed against the cage.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sanchez tries to stall but Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mark Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanchez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cruz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Tony Sanchez has been cut.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cruz is keeping busy.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A knee to the head by Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Sanchez lands a shot to the body.
Cruz trying to stall but Sanchez improves his position.
Cruz lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
The referee calls for Sanchez to work.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchez.
Cruz holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sanchez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sanchez tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Sanchez.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sanchez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Sanchez misses with a body punch.
Cruz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The referee calls for Sanchez to work.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Cruz leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cruz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sanchez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz taking a breather.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sanchez throws an elbow but it misses.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz taking a breather.
Sanchez tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez wants to stall.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanchez is keeping busy.
Sanchez lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sanchez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cruz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Cruz tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez trying to stall but Cruz improves his position.
Cruz leaning against his opponent.
Sanchez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cruz up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tony Sanchez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sanchez wants to clinch.
Cruz wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Cruz finds it's way through Sanchez's defenses.

Cruz clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez tries to stall but Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Sanchez is blocking nicely.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
A knee to the head by Cruz.
Sanchez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sanchez misses with a knee strike.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Sanchez tries a body shot but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Cruz connects with a knee to the head.
Cruz lands a nice knee to the body.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cruz.
Cruz slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cruz connects with a knee to the head.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees to the body from Cruz.
Cruz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sanchez's face.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to stall.
Sanchez is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz working aggressively here.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cruz is stalling here.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tony Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez blocks a body shot from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sanchez tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The referee calls for Cruz to work.
Sanchez tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz taking a breather.
Sanchez tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A bit of stalling here from Cruz.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Sanchez is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Sanchez into the cage.
Sanchez landing knees to the body.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
Mark Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:28

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