PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mate Kertezs (ranked 5933 p4p, 575 weight class) and Matt Cruz (ranked 5988 p4p, 578 weight class). Kertezs comes to the cage accompanied by ZAYDE WOLF - BORN READY. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kertezs
vs
Cruz

183 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

SKULLFCK Sportswear

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mate Kertezs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kertezs throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.

Kertezs pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.

Kertezs breaks the clinch.
Cruz defending well as Kertezs loads up on a big left hand.
Kertezs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kertezs connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cruz. Cruz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Kertezs shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kertezs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.
Kertezs stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Kertezs is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kertezs stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cruz to get to his feet.
Kertezs darts in looking for a takedown but Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Kertezs into the cage.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kertezs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kertezs throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
Kertezs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mate Kertezs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz lands with a cross.
Kertezs looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kertezs misses with a left hand
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kertezs misses the body punch
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
Kertezs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Kertezs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kertezs throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Kertezs misses
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Matt Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kertezs misses with a straight right.
Nice cross by Kertezs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz tests Kertezs's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kertezs takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kertezs fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cruz on the side of the head.
Kertezs tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Kertezs is out of range.
Kertezs misses with a jab to the body
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kertezs uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kertezs looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
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.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Kertezs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kertezs just misses with a punch to the body.
Kertezs misses with an uppercut.
Cruz misses the jab.
Kertezs falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kertezs is breathing heavily.
Kertezs throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kertezs misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kertezs slips under a jab.
Cruz lands a right hook to the body.
Kertezs falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kertezs throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kertezs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kertezs misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kertezs has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cruz finds it's way round the side to connect with Kertezs's head.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Kertezs pushes him off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Kertezs does no damage.
Cruz stuns Kertezs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kertezs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Kertezs misses with a takedown attempt
and Cruz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kertezs thinking.
Kertezs throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kertezs had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Kertezs looks to clinch
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Mate Kertezs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt 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.

Kertezs fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Kertezs.
Kertezs swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kertezs throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Kertezs.
Kertezs throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
Kertezs missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mate Kertezs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kertezs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
A cross from Kertezs lands.
Cruz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kertezs connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cruz. Cruz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kertezs misses with a takedown attempt
and Kertezs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kertezs goes for a double leg but Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cruz continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mate Kertezs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kertezs misses with a double jab
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz throws the left hand but Kertezs avoids the punch easily.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Kertezs circles away.
Kertezs throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Kertezs defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Kertezs doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kertezs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz lands with a good body shot.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kertezs.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Kertezs appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Kertezs ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Kertezs.
Cruz tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kertezs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kertezs looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kertezs throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Matt Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kertezs rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Kertezs on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cruz tries to clinch but Kertezs moves out of range.
Kertezs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Kertezs throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kertezs moves to clinch but Cruz breaks away
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kertezs stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz throws a hook but Kertezs avoids it easily.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kertezs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kertezs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kertezs throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kertezs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cruz, as that shot connected.
Good shot there by Cruz.
Kertezs uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Kertezs misses with a takedown
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kertezs misses with a combination
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz misses the jab.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz throws a hook but Kertezs blocks it.
Kertezs misses with a double jab.
Kertezs misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz moves out of range of the leg kick from Kertezs.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Kertezs moves out of range.
Kertezs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz throws out a counter right but Kertezs avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
Cruz throws a counter combo.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Kertezs.
Cruz defending well as Kertezs loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz works over Kertezs's head and body with a nice combination.
Nice defenses there by Cruz.
Kertezs misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kertezs slips a jab from Cruz.
Kertezs misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Kertezs ducks down to avoid it.
Kertezs throws a lazy uppercut
and Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Kertezs backing up. Kertezs nods at Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.
Kertezs throws an off balance right hand
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab by Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kertezs swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kertezs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.

Kertezs shoots in and bounces Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kertezs is one step ahead there.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kertezs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Cruz looking for a triangle here. Kertezs is fighting it but it looks tight! Cruz pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Kertezs is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Matt Cruz!