|
|
CWC 298 - Steel vs Lee PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 13 wins and 16 losses; Ruben Gracie! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 4 wins and 4 losses; Michael Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Michael Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz is trying to drag Gracie to the mat but Gracie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cruz can't fight it off and eventually Gracie manages to take the fight to the floor. Cruz looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Gracie (2) vs (0) Cruz
Gracie postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps trying to improve his position.
Cruz has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cruz. Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (5) vs (0) Cruz
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Cruz felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz has a hand on Gracie's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gracie takes advantage of the position though and mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (8) vs (0) Cruz
Cruz working to try and regain half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Cruz is squirming around nicely.
Cruz is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Cruz defends it well.
Gracie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Cruz to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cruz shrugs it off.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to get to half guard.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back. Score +3 for taking back: Gracie (11) vs (0) Cruz
Gracie struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cruz tries to escape but Gracie has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
Cruz is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cruz preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.
Cruz is really stuck here.
Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cruz is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Cruz manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracie (11) vs (2) Cruz
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (11) vs (5) Cruz
Gracie regains half guard.
Cruz trying to control the pace.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz controlling from the top position.
Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cruz passes into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (11) vs (8) Cruz
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gracie wants to control but Cruz postures up.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cruz gets to mount! Gracie was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Gracie (11) vs (10) Cruz
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cruz is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Cruz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Cruz passes to side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (11) vs (13) Cruz
Gracie is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but Gracie denies him.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Cruz keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie is trying to work for a sweep but Cruz has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Gracie (11) vs (15) Cruz
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Cruz has a good base and remains in mount.
Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz wins on points by 15 to 11.
A relieved looking Michael 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
