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CWC 365 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the welterweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 30 wins and 18 losses; Michael Cruz! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 14 wins and 4 losses; Derek Erwin!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Cruz (2) vs (0) Erwin
Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Erwin's guard.
Erwin controlling the position for now.
Cruz controlling the action here.
Erwin keeping hold of Cruz's head, controlling as best he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Erwin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Erwin tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.
Cruz is pressing down on Erwin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Erwin is holding on for now.
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 two minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz is taking a breather. Erwin 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erwin is looking to improve his position.
Erwin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Erwin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cruz is thwarting Erwin's attempts to control the position.
Cruz controlling the pace.
Erwin 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.
Erwin is controlling Cruz's trapped leg to prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Erwin avoid being mounted?
Cruz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Erwin is trying to control but Cruz passes into side control!
Score +3 for passing guard: Cruz (5) vs (0) Erwin
Erwin tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Erwin seems a little lost for a moment, as Cruz dominates the positioning.
Cruz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Erwin wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Erwin is trying to get back to half guard.
Erwin is still trying to improve position.
Cruz trying to control the action but Erwin is working from the bottom.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is looking to regain half guard here but Cruz keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Erwin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Erwin is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz just content to control the position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Erwin tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.
Erwin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cruz off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Cruz (5) vs (4) Erwin
Erwin is hanging on to Cruz's back as he tries to escape.
Erwin 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.
Cruz tries to escape the position.
What can Cruz do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cruz just looking to survive in the bad position.
Erwin is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Erwin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cruz tries to escape the position.
Cruz trying to control the hands but Erwin breaks the grip.
Erwin is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Erwin has good solid back control here.
It looks like Erwin 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 trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Cruz tries to roll but Erwin sticks to his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Cruz wants to control his opponent's hands but Erwin gets his hands free.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Erwin keeps control of the position as Cruz tries to break free.
Cruz breaks Erwin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Cruz (7) vs (4) Erwin
Erwin is trying to keep Cruz in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Erwin holds on and takes a little breather.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Erwin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Erwin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Erwin controlling the position.
Erwin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erwin has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Cruz (10) vs (4) Erwin
And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz takes the fight on points by 10 to 4.
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.
Derek Erwin spoke after the fight, saying 'I didn't lose I just ran out of time'. |
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