PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Orel (ranked 1661 p4p, 2181 weight class) and Ricardo P Cruz (ranked 252 p4p, 331 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.

Orel
vs
P Cruz

195 cm
26
205
13 - 10 - 0

193 cm
28
225
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adam Orel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo P Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orel misses with the combination.
Orel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Orel walks into a jab.
Orel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by P Cruz.
P Cruz misses with a head kick.
Orel scores with a jab to the jaw.
Orel slips under a jab.

P Cruz rushes Orel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Orel throws a punch but it's blocked by P Cruz.
Orel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

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

Orel has managed to clinch.
Orel is leaning against P Cruz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
P Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Orel slowing the pace effectively.
Orel lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orel scores with a shoulder strike.
P Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orel pushes P Cruz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Orel misses with a knee strike.
P Cruz letting Orel take a breather here.
P Cruz blocking some punches.
Orel has a couple of punches blocked by P Cruz.
Orel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

P Cruz breaks from the clinch.
P Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Orel ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Orel misses.
Orel throws an overhand right that lands on P Cruz's shoulder, as P Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - P Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
P Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
P Cruz throws a series of punches but Orel avoids them all with ease.
P Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A nice combination there by P Cruz.
Orel avoids a punch combination nicely.

P Cruz clinches up with Orel and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orel effectively controlling the action here.
P Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
P Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
A short right from Orel on the inside.
Orel pressing his opponent against the cage.

P Cruz breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - P Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
P Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Orel fails with an attempt to clinch.

Orel closes the distance and clinches.
P Cruz tries to circle away but Orel has him pinned against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

P Cruz manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
P Cruz tries to land a front kick but Orel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Orel is looking to counter punch.
Nice defenses there by P Cruz.
Orel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from P Cruz.
Orel looks to throw the jab but P Cruz is out of range.
A little jabbing left from P Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Orel moves forwards but P Cruz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Orel cracks P Cruz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Orel. P Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
P Cruz throws a series of punches but Orel moves out of range.
Orel throws a looping overhand right but P Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
P Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orel.
P Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheers as P Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Orel doesn't seem phased though.
P Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

P Cruz is rocked!
Orel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by P Cruz.
P Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Orel finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
P Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Orel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

P Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Orel. Orel maintains the clinch.
Orel lands a left hand that snaps the head of P Cruz backwards.
A short right from Orel on the inside.
Orel lands a shoulder strike.
P Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
P Cruz has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Orel seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if P Cruz can turn it around.
Orel has P Cruz pushed against the cage.
Orel stalls.
P Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Orel has him pressed against the cage.
Orel has P Cruz pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. P Cruz is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Orel - that's hurt P Cruz badly! Oh, another knee lands and P Cruz is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but P Cruz doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Adam Orel!