PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oganeditse Gaolathe (ranked 841 p4p, 47 weight class) and Darian Cruz (ranked 778 p4p, 43 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gaolathe
vs
Cruz

175 cm
23
145 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

171 cm
30
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oganeditse Gaolathe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz takes one on the button.
Gaolathe blocks a jab.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Gaolathe moved out of range nicely.
Gaolathe lands with a good body shot.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cruz walks into a jab.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gaolathe circles away quickly and effectively.
Gaolathe throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Gaolathe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cruz on the side of the head.
Gaolathe throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Gaolathe is out of range.
Gaolathe punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cruz misses the jab.
Gaolathe misses the shot to the body.
Gaolathe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Gaolathe lands a nice shot to the body.
Gaolathe tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gaolathe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Cruz lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaolathe.
Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Gaolathe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gaolathe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gaolathe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gaolathe staying out of range there.
Gaolathe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gaolathe connects with a solid leg kick.
Gaolathe misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz needs to keep his hands up - Gaolathe had a free shot at his head there.
Gaolathe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Gaolathe scores with a sloppy right hand. Cruz should have avoided that one.
Gaolathe throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Cruz misses.
Gaolathe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gaolathe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Gaolathe throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Oganeditse Gaolathe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Gaolathe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gaolathe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Gaolathe.
Decent striking displayed by Gaolathe there.
That kick from Gaolathe tenderised Cruz's leg. Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gaolathe moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gaolathe lands a nice shot to the body.
Gaolathe misses with a right hand
and Gaolathe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gaolathe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gaolathe scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gaolathe avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Gaolathe appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gaolathe lands with a good body shot.
Gaolathe is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Gaolathe connects with an inside leg kick.
Gaolathe with a hook.
Cruz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gaolathe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Gaolathe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Cruz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Cruz sizes up Gaolathe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gaolathe misses the jab.
Gaolathe misses with a hook.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gaolathe lands a right hook to the body.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Gaolathe.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gaolathe jabs Cruz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaolathe misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Gaolathe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Good leg kick by Gaolathe there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gaolathe jabs at Cruz's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz walks into a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gaolathe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaolathe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jab, jab by Gaolathe - just one landing.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gaolathe scores with a jab to the head.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Gaolathe swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Gaolathe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Gaolathe is looking to counter punch.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Gaolathe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gaolathe throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Gaolathe.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Gaolathe throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Cruz throws out a counter right but Gaolathe avoids it with no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gaolathe, as that shot connected.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Gaolathe.
A countering left hand to the body from Cruz misses.
Gaolathe takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oganeditse Gaolathe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cruz swinging wildly here.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Cruz might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Gaolathe has got the better of the exchanges.
Good standup being displayed there by Gaolathe as he connects with a hook.
Cruz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gaolathe ducks right into an uppercut from Cruz.
Gaolathe changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Gaolathe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Gaolathe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Gaolathe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Gaolathe misses the jab.
Gaolathe moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaolathe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
That kick from Gaolathe tenderised Cruz's leg. Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gaolathe misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaolathe.
Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Gaolathe moves away and avoids it.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Gaolathe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Gaolathe staying out of range there.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Gaolathe misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Gaolathe.
Cruz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gaolathe throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gaolathe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Darian Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaolathe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaolathe.
Gaolathe throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Gaolathe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Gaolathe throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaolathe pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cruz is out of range and Gaolathe settles back down.
Cruz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gaolathe ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice straight punches there by Gaolathe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gaolathe.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gaolathe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gaolathe connects with an inside leg kick.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Gaolathe.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gaolathe moves out of range.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Gaolathe lands a head shot.
Gaolathe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaolathe. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gaolathe just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaolathe moves away.
Cruz thuds his right hand into Gaolathe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gaolathe takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Gaolathe throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaolathe lands with a shot to the body.
Gaolathe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaolathe with a jab.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gaolathe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Oganeditse Gaolathe is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaolathe throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gaolathe scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gaolathe swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
Gaolathe takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz takes a swing at Gaolathe's ribcage but misses.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaolathe misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaolathe misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaolathe scores with a hook.
Gaolathe scores with a nice right hand.
Gaolathe digs a good hook to Cruz's body.
Gaolathe wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gaolathe throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz throws the left hand but Gaolathe avoids the punch easily.
Gaolathe lands a jab to the nose.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gaolathe misses with a body shot.
As Gaolathe backs off Cruz throws a huge counter combo but Gaolathe manages to avoid it all.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaolathe lands a slapping body shot.
A jab from Gaolathe finds it's way through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gaolathe works the jab nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oganeditse Gaolathe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Gaolathe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Gaolathe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gaolathe throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Gaolathe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz lands with a hook. Gaolathe tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cruz throws a jab when Gaolathe was well out of range.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Gaolathe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Gaolathe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Gaolathe.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gaolathe, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Gaolathe motions for Cruz to come forward. Gaolathe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaolathe needs to keep his hands up - Cruz had a free shot at his head there.
Gaolathe looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaolathe misses with a hook to the body
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz throws the left hand but Gaolathe avoids the punch easily.
Gaolathe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gaolathe is looking to counter punch.
Cruz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gaolathe fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cruz scores with a jab.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gaolathe.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Gaolathe avoids it well.
Cruz takes one on the button.
Gaolathe lands with a right hand.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaolathe.
A jab from Gaolathe misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Gaolathe counters with a nice body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cruz misses with a hook. Gaolathe ducked under it nicely.
Oganeditse Gaolathe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz needs to keep his hands up - Gaolathe had a free shot at his head there.
Gaolathe just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gaolathe moves out of range.
Gaolathe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gaolathe lands with a right hand.
Gaolathe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Cruz walks into a jab.
Gaolathe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Gaolathe.
Gaolathe connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cruz momentarily.
Gaolathe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
Gaolathe tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gaolathe throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Gaolathe.
Gaolathe walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Gaolathe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaolathe looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gaolathe moves out of range.
Gaolathe throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Gaolathe throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Cruz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gaolathe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gaolathe tries to land a leg kick but Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Cruz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gaolathe on the side of the head.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gaolathe moves out of range.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gaolathe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gaolathe lands a right hook to the body.
Gaolathe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gaolathe throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Darian Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A low kick from Gaolathe is predictable there
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Gaolathe throws a combination that misses
and Gaolathe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gaolathe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gaolathe scores with a jab to the jaw.
A jab from Gaolathe misses.
Cruz lands with a straight right. Gaolathe didn't see that one coming.
Gaolathe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaolathe.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gaolathe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch lands to the side of Cruz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gaolathe misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Gaolathe's shoulder, as Gaolathe tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Gaolathe slips the punch.
Gaolathe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cruz's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Oganeditse Gaolathe.
Well Gaolathe 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oganeditse Gaolathe!
A victorious Oganeditse Gaolathe thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.