PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Charles Sanders (ranked 3815 p4p, 4140 weight class) and Matt Cruz (ranked 507 p4p, 547 weight class). Charles Sanders has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sanders
vs
Cruz

187 cm
26
180
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
170
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Charles Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanders misses with the combination.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanders throws out the jab.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Sanders's shoulder, as Sanders tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz throws a jab when Sanders was well out of range.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Sanders lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Sanders does a little dance to reset his feet.
No joy there for Sanders, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanders swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sanders doesn't seem phased though.
Cruz has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sanders scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sloppy strikes from Sanders. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sanders takes one to the chin there.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanders takes one to the chin there.

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Sanders's brow.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanders wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Sanders is defending the position.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruz throwing shots but Sanders is blocking nicely.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanders tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sanders doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Ground and pound from Cruz.

Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sanders taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.

Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sanders sees it coming and defends easily.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sanders tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz passes to full mount!
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Sanders that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Sanders is rocked!
Cruz is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Sanders goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Cruz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Matt Cruz!