PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Death Minister (ranked 1899 p4p, 3604 weight class) and Matt Cruz (ranked 261 p4p, 465 weight class). Minister comes to the cage accompanied by Rhapsody of Fire. Death Minister has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Minister
vs
Cruz

181 cm
20
176
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
170
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Death Minister!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minister scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Minister ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Minister swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Minister throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Minister seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Minister misses with the combination.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Minister gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.
Cruz lands with a light punch inside.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Minister avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws an elbow but it misses.
A short body shot lands from Cruz as the two fighters clinch.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz lands a hook that snaps the head of Minister backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Minister.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minister working hard to break the clinch.
A hook to the body from Cruz.
Cruz tries a body shot but Minister blocks it.
Minister wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Minister uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a punch on the inside.

Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. Minister uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by Minister!

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Minister can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Minister doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Minister manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Minister knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Minister doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Minister manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Minister is aware though and is defending well.

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Minister has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Minister passes into side control.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz keeps trying to improve his position.
Cruz regains half guard.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Minister has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.

Cruz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Minister stacks Cruz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Minister!
Cruz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Minister defends well.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz has an active guard here but Minister has managed to pass into half guard.
Minister wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling the position.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Minister pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Minister displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Minister throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Minister lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cruz at a distance.
Minister fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cruz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Minister on the side of the head.
Minister takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Minister counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minister connects with a jab.
Minister goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Minister sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Minister scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minister lands a right hook to the body.
Death Minister is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab by Minister.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Minister counters with a straight right hand.
Minister connects with a superb combination that knocks Cruz out cold! The referee charges across the mat and tackles Minister before he can land any more shots to the unconscious Cruz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Death Minister!
Death Minister very nearly forgot to thank Brooklyn Apothecary amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.