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CWC 222 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 19 wins and 15 losses; Ishiihara Sakuraba! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 10 wins and 10 losses; Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Sakuraba gets a takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (0) Cruz
Sakuraba sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuraba seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Sakuraba not doing much here.
Cruz has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Shao Kahns Training Facility. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Sakuraba'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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is controlling Sakuraba's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Well, if Sakuraba is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sakuraba continues to stall.
Sakuraba has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sakuraba trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Sakuraba is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sakuraba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping hold of Sakuraba's head, controlling as best he can.
Sakuraba is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sakuraba is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba prevents Cruz from improving his position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is controlling the pace.
Cruz trying to control but Sakuraba postures up.
Sakuraba wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cruz wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sakuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sakuraba's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (4) Cruz
Cruz avoiding Sakuraba 's attempts to control his hands.
Cruz slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
It looks like Cruz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Cruz keeps control of the position as Sakuraba tries to break free.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control but Sakuraba is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Cruz pushes him away.
Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cruz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sakuraba has worked his arm free - good work by Sakuraba!
Sakuraba manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Sakuraba defends the submission attempt.
Sakuraba is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sakuraba keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Sakuraba is controlling Cruz's posture.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakuraba is retaining full guard.
Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sakuraba's guard.
Cruz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Sakuraba (2) vs (7) Cruz
Cruz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sakuraba has worked his arm free - good work by Sakuraba!
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Cruz staying calm.
Cruz is continuing to stall.
Cruz taking a break here but Sakuraba is having none of it and regains half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control but Cruz postures up.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.
Sakuraba is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Sakuraba won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sakuraba defends it well.
Sakuraba is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz is looking to stall here but Sakuraba recovers full guard.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sakuraba pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sakuraba managing to control the position.
Further stalling from Sakuraba.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looking for a sweep. Not yet Sakuraba, not yet.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sakuraba is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz wins on points by 7 to 2.
A relieved looking Darian Cruz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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