PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James McGuire (ranked 3272 p4p, 2615 weight class) and Ricardo P Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGuire comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Enter Sandman . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McGuire
vs
P Cruz

192 cm
43
210
28 - 22 - 0

193 cm
25
225
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

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 28 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo P Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but P Cruz moves away.

P Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
P Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.
McGuire landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
P Cruz avoiding damage as McGuire throws knees to the body.
McGuire is trying to drag P Cruz to the mat but P Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McGuire.

McGuire manages to pull guard.
McGuire keeping full guard, as P Cruz tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

P Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
P Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
P Cruz blocks a head kick by McGuire.

P Cruz forces McGuire back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables P Cruz to keep the fight standing.

P Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

McGuire has P Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
McGuire tries for a takedown but P Cruz manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James McGuire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGuire tries to pull guard but P Cruz won't allow it.
McGuire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire wants to stall.
P Cruz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McGuire trying to land knees to the body.
McGuire tries to throw a body punch but P Cruz avoids it by throwing McGuire back against the cage.

McGuire has hold of one of P Cruz's legs. P Cruz is fighting the takedown attempt but McGuire gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. P Cruz manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
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!
P Cruz taking a breather.
P Cruz taking a breather.

P Cruz breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire looks to throw the jab but P Cruz is out of range.
McGuire takes one on the button.

It looks like James McGuire has been cut.
McGuire blocks a head kick by P Cruz.
P Cruz throws a series of punches but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire throws a big counter combination but P Cruz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A nice combination there by P Cruz.
P Cruz tries to bum rush McGuire with a series of wild strikes but McGuire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
P Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
P Cruz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
P Cruz is looking to clinch.
P Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
P Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. McGuire shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
P Cruz misses with a hook
enabling McGuire to counter with a crisp jab.

P Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.

McGuire gets control of P Cruz's arms and successfully pulls guard. McGuire will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

P Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
P Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

P Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
P Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
P Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but McGuire swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
P Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McGuire throws a hook but P Cruz blocks it.
McGuire wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
P Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from P Cruz.
P Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire throws a predictable looking body shot
and P Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has McGuire backing up. McGuire nods at P Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for P Cruz.
McGuire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuire trying to land knees to the body.
McGuire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from P Cruz.
P Cruz is trying to push McGuire away but McGuire has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

P Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McGuire looks to score with a jab to the body but P Cruz is just out of range.
Despite the aggression on P Cruz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

McGuire feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends P Cruz sprawling to the canvas! P Cruz rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can McGuire finish him?!

P Cruz is rocked!

It looks like Ricardo P Cruz has been cut.
McGuire checks a leg kick.
P Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can McGuire finish him?

The fight moves into the clinch position.
P Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McGuire is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but P Cruz is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGuire's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

McGuire gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, P Cruz regains guard.

McGuire is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! P Cruz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! P Cruz has escaped and now he's on top!

P Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McGuire is breathing heavily.

McGuire looking for a guillotine here but P Cruz defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo P Cruz will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

P Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

McGuire darts in and clinches P Cruz up against the cage.
P Cruz seems to have recovered his senses.

P Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
McGuire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but P Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from McGuire.
Ricardo P Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGuire tries to clinch but P Cruz is having none of it.
McGuire misses with an uppercut. P Cruz saw that one coming.
P Cruz with a jab.
We've been told by McGuire's head coaches at The Factory that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
McGuire looks to score with a jab to the body but P Cruz is just out of range.
P Cruz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McGuire tries to bum rush P Cruz with a series of wild strikes but P Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuire misses with a looping right.
McGuire avoids the head kick by P Cruz.
It looked like McGuire wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McGuire loads up on a big right hand but P Cruz slips the punch.
P Cruz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
P Cruz avoids the head kick by McGuire.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice combination there by P Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a looping left.
P Cruz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
P Cruz lands an overhand right.
McGuire fails with an attempt to clinch.
P Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A punch combination from P Cruz misses.
McGuire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but P Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from McGuire.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
McGuire chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before P Cruz can pounce on him.
P Cruz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McGuire's head.
A head kick misses from P Cruz.
P Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

McGuire lands a big uppercut and P Cruz crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but P Cruz looks OK. McGuire waves P Cruz back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
McGuire tries to clinch there but P Cruz circles away.
P Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps McGuire's head back.
McGuire fails with an attempt to clinch.

P Cruz moves into the clinch.
P Cruz avoiding damage as McGuire throws knees to the body.
McGuire keeps control of P Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire tries to pull guard but P Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually McGuire drops back down to his feet.
P Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but McGuire has double underhooks.

P Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
P Cruz blocks a head kick by McGuire.
P Cruz throws a right and a left that McGuire avoids nicely.
P Cruz staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by P Cruz.
McGuire throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
P Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
P Cruz lands a high kick!
McGuire swings for the body but P Cruz moves out of range.

P Cruz has managed to clinch.
McGuire is trying to pull guard but P Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
P Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from McGuire.
P Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McGuire has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as P Cruz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Come on McGuire - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

P Cruz breaks from the clinch.
McGuire avoids the head kick by P Cruz.
McGuire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice jab there from McGuire.
P Cruz is looking to clinch.
No joy there for P Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
P Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McGuire appears to be looking for a big counter.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
P Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
P Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGuire paws at him with a jab and circles away.
P Cruz lands with a kick to the ribs.
P Cruz lands the left hand.
McGuire lands an uppercut out of nowhere! P Cruz falls backwards - clearly groggy! McGuire dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James McGuire!
James McGuire managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Velocity Fightwear, into his post fight interview.