PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Funky Lotus Style (ranked 1597 p4p, 107 weight class) and Darian Cruz (ranked 22833 p4p, 309 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Lotus Style might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dançando Lambada. Funky Lotus Style has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lotus Style
vs
Cruz

170 cm
25
141 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

171 cm
28
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

UnderGround Supplements
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Funky Lotus Style!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lotus Style. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz throws a body punch but Lotus Style moves out of range.
Cruz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lotus Style takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lotus Style fails with an attempt to clinch.
Darian Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lotus Style on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lotus Style shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Lotus Style walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus Style tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lotus Style tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Lotus Style has been working on his balance at UnderGround Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Cruz.
Lotus Style on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lotus Style looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lotus Style tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lotus Style is looking to clinch.
Lotus Style swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Lotus Style moves into the clinch.
Cruz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

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

Lotus Style is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cruz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cruz is in close to Lotus Style's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lotus Style had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lotus Style is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.
Lotus Style wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lotus Style manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lotus Style has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lotus Style's head.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lotus Style's head.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Lotus Style being controlled here, momentarily.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Lotus Style is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lotus Style is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
Lotus Style not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz controlling from the top position.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.

Lotus Style working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cruz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cruz cracks Lotus Style with a solid left hand.
Cruz is working Lotus Style over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darian Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Still in the clinch, Cruz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz taking a breather.
Lotus Style tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lotus Style fails to pull guard.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Lotus Style looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Cruz. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cruz.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lotus Style moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lotus Style quickly recovers to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lotus Style wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Lotus Style looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lotus Style actively working from the bottom here.
Lotus Style wants to get back to full guard.
Darian Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lotus Style tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz wants to stand up but Lotus Style is controlling the position.

Lotus Style looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.

Cruz wants to work for an arm triangle but Lotus Style is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Lotus Style is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Cruz works his way into side control.
Cruz in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Cruz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cruz cracks Lotus Style with a big elbow.

Cruz is working to tighten his grip on Lotus Style's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Lotus Style has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Cruz is really squeezing tight and eventually Lotus Style passes out! Cruz breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Darian Cruz!
Darian Cruz is the new bantamweight champion!