PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kilo Maluga (ranked 2 p4p, 25 weight class) and Jorge Cruz Jr (ranked 1 p4p, 6 weight class). Maluga comes to the cage accompanied by JUNGLE. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maluga
vs
Cruz Jr

197 cm
29
259
23 - 7 - 0

209 cm
33
245
28 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kilo Maluga!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Cruz Jr!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Maluga misses
and Maluga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Kilo Maluga has been cut.
Kilo Maluga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick from Maluga, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maluga is looking to land body kicks.
Cruz Jr counters with a body kick.
Maluga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maluga has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Convicted Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Maluga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz Jr punishes Maluga's body with a nice straight punch.

Maluga forces Cruz Jr back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz Jr is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Maluga to keep the fight standing.
Cruz Jr jumps guard but Maluga stands there with Cruz Jr around his waist. Cruz Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maluga struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz Jr controls his hands.
Maluga digs a right hand into Cruz Jr's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cruz Jr's gas tank.
Cruz Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kilo Maluga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Cruz Jr.
Maluga lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cruz Jr tries to pull guard but Maluga forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cruz Jr fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Cruz Jr jumps guard and drags Maluga to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz Jr keeping full guard, as Maluga tries to pass.
Cruz Jr wants to stand but Maluga is controlling the position.
Maluga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr wants to stand but Maluga is controlling the position.
Maluga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz Jr is keeping the position for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cruz Jr being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cruz Jr lands a big head kick that sends Maluga tumbling to the mat! Cruz Jr takes a step backwards and waves Maluga back to his feet - he wants the finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maluga throws a right hand that Cruz Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz Jr also avoids with ease.
Cruz Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Cruz Jr.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Cruz Jr throws a hook but Maluga avoids it easily.
Cruz Jr avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maluga throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maluga lands a high kick!

It looks like Jorge Cruz Jr has been cut.
Maluga throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cruz Jr on the side of the head.
Cruz Jr checks the leg kick.
Cruz Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maluga wants to clinch
and Cruz Jr counters with a nice uppercut.

Kilo Maluga's cut is getting worse.
Maluga misses with a looping left.
Cruz Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kilo Maluga will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maluga drops Cruz Jr with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Cruz Jr looks back up at him and smiles so Maluga waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Maluga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz Jr can do to turn this around?
Maluga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maluga wants to clinch.
Cruz Jr unleashes a big counter combination but Maluga bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maluga misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Cruz Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Maluga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maluga connects with an inside leg kick.
Cruz Jr throws a right and a left that Maluga avoids nicely.
Maluga digs a good body shot into Cruz Jr's ribs.

Maluga has managed to clinch.
Maluga gets through Cruz Jr's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Cruz Jr pulls guard successfully.
Maluga not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maluga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maluga's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cruz Jr wants to stand and escape but Maluga is having none of it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maluga's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maluga tries to clinch but Cruz Jr moves out of range.
Cruz Jr replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Maluga blocks it well.
Cruz Jr takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Maluga was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cruz Jr.
Cruz Jr walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Maluga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maluga slips a straight right by Cruz Jr.
Maluga swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maluga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz Jr is looking for the big counter here.
Maluga delivers a nice body kick.
Maluga scores with a hook to the body. Cruz Jr takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maluga feints and then cracks Cruz Jr's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cruz Jr down.
A jab from Maluga misses.
It seemed like Cruz Jr was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kilo Maluga dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Maluga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maluga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz Jr throws out a counter right but Maluga avoids it with no problem.
Maluga works the jab nicely.
Cruz Jr chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maluga can pounce on him.

Maluga sends Cruz Jr crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Maluga is motioning to the referee to let Cruz Jr up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Cruz Jr is rocked!
Maluga slips under a jab from Cruz Jr.
Maluga is looking to land body kicks.
Kilo Maluga is winning the standup battle so far.
Maluga lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maluga misses with a kick to the body.
Cruz Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That kick from Maluga tenderised Cruz Jr's leg. Cruz Jr is trying to keep his angry face on.
Maluga connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruz Jr walks forward, straight into a front kick from Maluga.

Maluga feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Cruz Jr sprawling to the canvas! Cruz Jr rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Maluga finish him?!
Cruz Jr is still on wobbly legs! Can Maluga finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz Jr wants to stay close but Maluga steps back to make room for something. Cruz Jr seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Maluga and Cruz Jr drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kilo Maluga!
Kilo Maluga retains his heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Kilo Maluga thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.