PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris John (ranked 131 p4p, 477 weight class) and Jacinto Cruz (ranked 17 p4p, 75 weight class). John comes to the cage accompanied by Don't Stop Me Now. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

John
vs
Cruz

178 cm
24
160
14 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
160
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel
Shadow Realm Apparel

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris John!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacinto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
John lands a jab to Cruz's midsection.
Cruz explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
John throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
John throws a head kick that misses
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on John's shoulder, as John tries to avoid the shot.
John misses with a left hand
and Cruz counters with a slapping leg kick.
John throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cruz. That's going to slow John down.
John swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
John feints and then cracks Cruz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cruz down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. John doesn't seem phased though.
Cruz avoids the body shot from John.
John rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've been told by John's head coaches at Champion Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cruz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from John. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!

John has closed the distance and engaged Cruz in a clinch.
John scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by John.
Cruz tries to pull guard but John won't allow it.

Cruz manages to pull guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. John is aware though and is defending well.
John postures up.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
John in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
John with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. John manages to get himself to full guard.

John is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Cruz presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz tries to pull guard but John forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz jumps guard but John turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Chris John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Cruz.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
John lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
John pushes Cruz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
John makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cruz working aggressively here.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
John lands a nice uppercut.

John manages to break the clinch.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Good work by John as he checks the leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by John!
John swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
John swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz tries a quick counter leg kick but John is wise to it.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from John.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on John's shoulder, as John tries to avoid the shot.
John fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz tries a quick counter leg kick but John is wise to it.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
John scores with a nice strike.
John misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
John just misses with a punch to the body.
John chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cruz can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
John attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
John throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent John stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz throws a leg kick but John sees it coming and checks it nicely.
John throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cruz is looking to slow John down with leg kicks.
John thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
Cruz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
John slips under a jab from Cruz.
Cruz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Some wild striking there from John.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris John will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

John missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz tries a low kick but John avoids it.
Jacinto Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
John tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
John gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cruz.
John throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice leg kick lands there from John.
John steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cruz. That one must have hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
John misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
John throws a body kick that misses
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
John throws a combination. Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Jacinto Cruz has been cut.
A jab from John does it's job there.
Cruz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
John misses with a low kick.
John misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz walks into a straight right hand from John.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as John checks a leg kick.
John swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

John has taken the fight to the clinch.
John looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
John prevents a body shot from Cruz.

John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
John throws a low kick but Cruz avoids it.
A clash of legs there as John blocks the low kick.
It looked like John wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat of the thigh.
John will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
John throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
John looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
John buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
John misses with a low kick.
Cruz defending well as John loads up on a big left hand.
John misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with an inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by John.
Cruz with a nice calf kick.
Cruz throws a push kick but John slaps the foot to one side.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
John throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
John throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz checks the leg kick.
Cruz moves out of range as John strikes.
Cruz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
John throws a quick inside leg kick.
John moves out of range as Cruz throws a body kick.
Cruz throws a leg kick which misses John's front leg but catches the back leg as John tries to avoid it.
John on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as John checks a leg kick.
John fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
A nice side step and Cruz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A leg kick checked by John.
John throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Cruz is clearly trying to counter these attacks from John with a body shot.
John uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
John misses with a left hand
and Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
John tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by John.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris John dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Cruz's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

John is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cruz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
John appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
John misses with a straight right.
John throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
John jabs Cruz right on the nose. Cruz blinks but takes it well.
John is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
John looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from John.
Cruz steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
John misses with a wild body shot.
John throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but John is out of range.
John takes one to the side of the head.
John misses with a double jab
and Cruz counters with a slapping leg kick.
John throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a nice body kick.
John throws a body kick, spinning off balance
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
John waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
John lands a body shot.
Cruz defending well as John loads up on a big left hand.
A good leg kick by John.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
John misses with a leg kick.
John swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Cruz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from John.
Cruz checks the leg kick.
Nice body punch from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
John throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
John throws a nice head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
John lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from John.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
John jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
John thuds a left hand into Cruz's body.
John fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from John.
John attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
John swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a good low kick that John was not able to check.
John lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cruz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Cruz flicks out a counter leg kick but John steps away.
John throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chris John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cruz.
John misses with a combination
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by John as he connects with a hook.
Cruz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. John doesn't seem bothered though.
A head kick misses from John.
John lands with an overhand left.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from John.
A low kick from John misses
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
A slapping leg kick lands for Cruz.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from John.
John swings widly with a right hand
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Cruz checks the leg kick.
John throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz moves away from the strike by John.
John throws a right and a left that both miss.
John throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
John throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
John throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
John backing away here, and Cruz unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
John swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.
John backing away here, and Cruz unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris John clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Cruz's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and John has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and John counters with a nice uppercut.
John paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
John misses with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps John thinking.
John misses with a double jab
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz is looking to land body kicks.
A little feinted left hand from John on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
John misses the jab.
John throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John lands a leg kick that knocks Cruz off balance momentarily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cruz.
John half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
John throws a chopping leg kick but Cruz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
John backing away here, and Cruz unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John sizes up Cruz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
John tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
John lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
John misses with a straight left.
John misses with a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
John looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
John throws a body kick that misses.
Cruz connects with a leg kick.
John wants to slow Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Cruz tries a quick counter leg kick but John is wise to it.
John takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
John pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cruz back to the cage. John follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz staying out of range there.
John tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
John throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
John lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

John moves into the clinch successfully.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. John just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cruz misses with some punches.
Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite John's efforts to push away.
Cruz lands a right hand.

John breaks the clinch.
John throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
John misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from John.
John throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz throws out a counter right but John avoids it with no problem.
John keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from John.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
John throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
John throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
John misses with a left hand
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
John lunges at Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cruz's hand.
John looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
John throws a low kick but Cruz avoids it.
John throws a sloppy body shot
and Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
John will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slips under a jab.
John takes one to the side of the head.
Nice jab there from John.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
John checks a low kick from Cruz.
An attempted straight right counter from John misses the target.
John throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
John throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
John throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
John swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a leg kick.
John misses with a straight right.
John moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
John looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz flicks out a counter leg kick but John steps away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris John had his way with Jacinto Cruz in that round.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Cruz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

John misses with a body punch
and Cruz counters with a body kick.
John has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruz.
John throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cruz counters with an outside leg kick.
John throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
John throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz checks a low kick from John.
John misses with a body shot.
John throws a leg kick but Cruz sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from John. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
John backing away here, and Cruz unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cruz. That's going to slow John down.
John throws a right and a left that both miss.
John dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to score with a low kick but John moves his leg out of the way.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cruz has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by John.
Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
John scores with a jab to the body.
John tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from John. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
John rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
John scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruz moves out of range as John strikes.
Cruz tries a quick counter leg kick but John is wise to it.
John lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cruz at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
John backing away here, and Cruz unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cruz.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
John throws a series of strikes that have Cruz backpedaling.
John throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.

John darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Cruz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz tries to pull guard but John holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Cruz tries to pull guard but John won't allow it.
Chris John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Cruz.
John blocks a punch to the side of the head.
John is working Cruz over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as John controls his hands.
Cruz cracks John with a nice body shot.
John gets through Cruz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
John has Cruz pressed against the cage.
John softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cruz tries to pull guard but John forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Chris John is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz jumps guard but John stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but John uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by John.
Jacinto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables John to keep the fight standing.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johns head.
A head punch on the inside from John fails to land.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but John holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
A head punch blocked on the inside by John.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as John controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
Chris John has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris John showed his dominance in that final round.
Well John has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 50:45
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris John!
Chris John retains his lightweight title!
Chris John was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.