PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Magic (ranked 6029 p4p, 6943 weight class) and Bobby Cruz (ranked 627 p4p, 679 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Magic
vs
Cruz

190 cm
25
213
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
218
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Big Magic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bobby Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz looks to land a combination but Magic avoids it well.
Magic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Magic misses with a straight right.
Magic looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Magic has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Island project in the buildup to the fight.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz blocks a jab.
Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Magic looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Magic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Magic goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Bobby Cruz has been cut.
Magic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Magic misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Magic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
A slow jab from Magic misses its intended target.
Magic dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magic moves away.
Magic misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Cruz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Magic rather than just go for the knockout.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Magic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Magic was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Magic swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cruz misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz with a nice cross.
Magic moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magic slips a straight right by Cruz.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Magic was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
A nice combination there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a body punch but Magic moves out of range.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Cruz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Magic avoids them all with ease.
Magic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Magic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A little feinted left hand from Magic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Magic.
Magic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Magic is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Magic scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Magic does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Magic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz throws a jab when Magic was well out of range.
Magic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Magic lands a slapping body shot.
A big left from Magic misses.
Cruz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Magic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Magic's hands.
Magic has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Magic does no damage.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Magic.
Magic changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Magic takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Nice uppercut there from Cruz.
Magic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz punishes Magic's body with a nice straight punch.
Cruz lands with a nice body punch.
Magic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Magic defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cruz defending well as Magic loads up on a big left hand.
Magic misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Magic.
Magic throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz scores with a nice head shot.
Magic jabs at Cruz's body.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bobby Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Magic throws a big shot that misses.
Magic looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Magic throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A counter left hand to the body from Magic misses its target.
Nice cross by Cruz.
Sloppy strikes from Magic. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Magic moved out of range.
A big left from Magic misses.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Magic might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Magic takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Magic lands a nice hook to Cruz's body. Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Magic.
Magic swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
Magic lands with a right hand.
Magic throws a big shot that misses.
Magic throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Cruz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Magic just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz connects with a single shot there.
Cruz with a nice cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Magic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Magic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Magic ducks right into an uppercut from Cruz.
Jab from Cruz.
A left and a right from Cruz both land. Nice combination.
Magic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Magic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz throws a jab when Magic was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Magic. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Magic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Magic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Magic throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Magic.
Cruz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Magic lands with a straight right. Cruz didn't see that one coming.
Cruz tries to bum rush Magic with a series of wild strikes but Magic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Magic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Magic counters with a nice body shot.
Cruz lands a slapping body shot.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Magic.
Magic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Magic. Those never looked like landing.
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!
Magic throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
A big right from Magic misses.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Magic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Cruz cracks Magic with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A combination from Magic does no damage.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Magic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Magic punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Magic scores with a nice strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bobby Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Bobby Cruz's cut.
That's time! Magic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cruz misses with a looping right.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Magic takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Magic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cruz to score with a decent uppercut.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Magic cracks Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Magic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Magic circles away quickly and effectively.
Magic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Magic misses with a wild combination.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Magic lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Magic.
Magic throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magic moves away.
A punch combination from Magic misses.
Cruz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Magic in his tracks.
Cruz throws a body punch but Magic moves out of range.
Magic misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz misses with a shot to the body
and Magic counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Magic's head but Magic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magic throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
A nice side step and Cruz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Magic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz swinging wildly here.
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 nice combination there by Cruz.
Magic throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magic just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Magic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Magic throws out the jab.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.
Magic misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Magic throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Magic drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Magic drops his hands momentarily and Cruz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Magic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Magic looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Magic misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Magic lands with a cross.
Magic misses the jab.
Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Magic scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Magic.
Magic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bobby Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magic avoids the body shot from Cruz.
It looked like Magic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Magic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left lands for Magic.
Magic misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Magic lands a glancing blow to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Magic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magic misses the jab.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Big Magic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Magic.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

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 Big Magic.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Cruz!
Bobby Cruz took some time post fight to say the following; 'These filthy people come and think they can beat me in my own home'.