PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julio Santos Cruz (ranked 5958 p4p, 23219 weight class) and Kent Straight (ranked 491 p4p, 506 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Santos Cruz
vs
Straight

175 cm
24
160
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
23
154
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Julio Santos Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kent Straight!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Straight scores with a three punch combo!

Straight drives through with a takedown into Santos Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Straight wants to control from the top but Santos Cruz keeps moving.
Santos Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Straight's guard.

Santos Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Straight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Straight can do anything to dispel that myth.
Straight looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos Cruz is one step ahead there.
Straight really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santos Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Straight has his hands on Santos Cruz's head, controlling the position.

Straight uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Straight closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Straight lands in his opponent's guard.
Santos Cruz keeping full guard, as Straight tries to pass.
Straight landing with the ground and pound.
Santos Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos Cruz, not yet.
Straight works over Santos Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Santos Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Straight.
Straight trying to control but Santos Cruz is working from the bottom.
Santos Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Straight working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos Cruz's head.
Santos Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Straight working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos Cruz's head.
Santos Cruz wants to sweep here but Straight controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santos Cruz has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Straight off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Santos Cruz gets caught napping as Straight dives in and scores a takedown. Santos Cruz manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Straight passes Santos Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Santos Cruz tries to roll over but Straight keeps him under control.
Straight is stalling here. Santos Cruz is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Straight seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Santos Cruz has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Cruz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Straight is trying to improve his position.
Straight is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Straight is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Santos Cruz off and has taken his back!
Straight lands punches and elbows.
Straight scores with strikes from the back.
Santos Cruz breaks Straight's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Santos Cruz wants to control from the top but Straight keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Straight looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Straight throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Santos Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Straight working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Straight is on top in guard.

Santos Cruz controls Straight momentarily but Straight frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kent Straight dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Santos Cruz dodges the punch combination from Straight.
Santos Cruz wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Straight tries to bum rush Santos Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Santos Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santos Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Straight, looking for a takedown. Santos Cruz pushes Straight against the cage but Straight circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Straight has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Straight slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santos Cruz looks for a takedown but Straight sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Santos Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Straight drives through with a takedown into Santos Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Straight trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Straight postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Santos Cruz working for a triangle but Straight defends it easily.
Straight must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Straight lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos Cruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Straight postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kent Straight has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santos Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Straight controls the pace.
Santos Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Santos Cruz being controlled here, momentarily.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Santos Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Straight defends easily.
Straight working some strikes from top position.
Straight landing with the ground and pound.
Straight makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Straight trying to control but Santos Cruz is working from the bottom.
Straight is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Straight trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Straight lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Straight's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Straight trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Straight wants to control from the top but Santos Cruz keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Straight stands up over Santos Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Straight chips away with some ground and pound.
Santos Cruz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Santos Cruz stands up out of the half guard.
Straight slaps away a takedown attempt from Santos Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Straight with the counter takedown but Santos Cruz avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Straight both land. Nice combination.
Straight misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Straight looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Santos Cruz!

Santos Cruz throws Straight to one side and escapes!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Straight throws a one two combo.

Straight fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santos Cruz sprawls well initially but Straight persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Straight seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Santos Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Straight is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Straight lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kent Straight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Santos Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Straight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Santos Cruz is defended easily by Straight.

Straight closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos Cruz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Straight lands some shots froms side control.
Santos Cruz tries to bench press Straight off him but Straight keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santos Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Straight cracks Santos Cruz with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Straight lands an elbow.
Straight wants to control but Santos Cruz is keeping him busy.
Straight works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Straight cracks Santos Cruz with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Straight stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Straight scores with a takedown into Santos Cruz's guard.
Straight trying to control but Santos Cruz is working from the bottom.
Straight stands up over Santos Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Straight postures up.
Straight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Santos Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Santos Cruz keeping moving, preventing Straight from controlling successfully.
Santos Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos Cruz, not yet.

Santos Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Straight trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Straight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Straight wants to control from the top but Santos Cruz keeps moving.
Straight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Straight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Straight is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Santos Cruz wriggles free and stands up.
Straight scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Santos Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Straight swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Santos Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Straight throws a leg kick but Santos Cruz moved away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Santos Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Straight looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Santos Cruz!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Straight landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kent Straight is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santos Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Straight works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A lull in the action here as Straight stalls from top position.
Julio Santos Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santos Cruz tries to bench press Straight off him but Straight keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kent Straight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Straight has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kent Straight!
Kent Straight opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.