PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Cruz (ranked 2895 p4p, 4178 weight class) and Ed Bridger (ranked 231 p4p, 314 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Daddy Yankee / Gasolina. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ed Bridger was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cruz
vs
Bridger

178 cm
33
150
14 - 15 - 0

178 cm
30
158
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Stoner's Killer Apparel
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pablo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ed Bridger!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Bridger slips a jab from Cruz.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Bridger slips the punch.
Cruz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cruz connects with a body shot.
Bridger tries to clinch up.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Bridger saw that one coming.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Bridger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bridger feints a counter leg kick.
Bridger fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bridger connects with a high kick.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Bridger counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Cruz lands a head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Bridger missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz misses with a hook
and Bridger counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bridger.
Bridger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Cruz misses its target.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Bridger.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruz misses with a hook
and Bridger counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bridger is just out of range.
Bridger takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bridger throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Pablo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bridger is looking to land body kicks.
Bridger throws a half hearted mid kick.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
A big left from Cruz misses.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Bridger avoids nicely.
Bridger flicks out a counter leg kick but Cruz steps away.
Bridger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Cruz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bridger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Bridger misses with a leg kick.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body. Bridger takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bridger throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bridger moves away from the strike by Cruz.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Bridger throws a big counter head kick but Cruz avoids it with no problem.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Bridger is out of range.
Bridger flicks out a counter leg kick but Cruz steps away.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bridger defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Bridger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bridger feints a counter leg kick.
Cruz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bridger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bridger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bridger moves out of range as Cruz strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bridger appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Bridger shapes to counter with a head kick.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
letting Bridger counter with a right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bridger. That's going to slow Cruz down.
Cruz cracks Bridger with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bridger dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
An inside leg kick lands from Bridger.
Cruz tests Bridger's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bridger misses with a body shot.
Bridger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bridger is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a right hand.
Bridger lands with a nice body kick.
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!
Bridger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Cruz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bridger momentarily.
A head kick from Bridger lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bridger is just out of range.
Bridger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bridger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bridger under the eye.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridger was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bridger is just out of range.
Bridger looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Bridger misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Cruz misses the target.
Bridger misses with a two punch combination.

Bridger moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bridger.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bridger moves out of range as Cruz strikes.
Cruz lands a head shot.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bridger lands with a shot to the body.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bridger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridger throws a body shot but no joy.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bridger in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A head kick misses from Bridger.
Bridger darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a jab when Bridger was well out of range.
Pablo Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Bridger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bridger can do to turn this around?
Bridger is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Bridger on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bridger misses with a hook.
Cruz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz throws an off balance right hand
and Bridger counters with a leg kick.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Bridger is looking for the big counter here.
Bridger wants to slow Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Jab by Cruz.
Bridger slips under a jab from Cruz.
Bridger looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Bridger.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Bridger throws a fast counter high kick but Cruz manages to duck under it in time.
Bridger throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz throwing a counter right hand but Bridger manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bridger with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cruz to score with a decent uppercut.
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz lands a nice looking body shot.
Bridger tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick from Bridger misses.
Bridger throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz misses with a jab to the body
and Bridger counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bridger doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridger cracks Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cruz throws a hook but Bridger avoids it easily.
Bridger is looking to land body kicks.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Cruz misses with a jab to the body
and Bridger makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Bridger ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz thuds a left hand into Bridger's body.
Bridger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bridger.
Cruz digs a good hook to Bridger's body.
Cruz digs a good hook to Bridger's body.
Cruz jabs Bridger to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bridger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Bridger.
Bridger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Bridger walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Bridger avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bridger. Cruz shrugs it off though.
Bridger throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Bridger is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Cruz as he connects with a hook.
Bridger slips a straight right by Cruz.
Bridger raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bridger looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Cruz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cruz scores with a nice right hand.
Bridger throws a body kick that misses.
Cruz digs a good body shot into Bridger's ribs.
Cruz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bridger lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridger was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bridger tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bridger throws out a powerful jab.
Bridger takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bridger misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridger was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bridger moves out of range.
Bridger lands with a kick to the temple. Cruz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bridger is just out of range.
A nice combination there by Cruz.
Bridger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bridger manages to avoid it.
Bridger looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
A low kick from Bridger misses
and Cruz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bridger thinking.
Bridger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.
Bridger raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bridger with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bridger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Bridger looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz blocks a leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Cruz misses its target.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Bridger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ed Bridger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Bridger throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Cruz blocks the low kick.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bridger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cruz throws a body punch but Bridger moves out of range.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Bridger makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bridger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz tests Bridger's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bridger tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bridger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Bridger is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Bridger looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
Bridger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Bridger's body. Bridger takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cruz throws a hook but Bridger avoids it easily.
Cruz takes a swing at Bridger's ribcage but misses.
Bridger tries a quick counter leg kick but Cruz is wise to it.
Bridger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bridger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Bridger.
Cruz connects with a jab.
Bridger misses with a low kick.
Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bridger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz digs a good body shot into Bridger's ribs.
Bridger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz throws an off balance right hand
letting Bridger counter with a right hand.
A low kick from Bridger is predictable there
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cruz cracks Bridger with an open hand slap.
Bridger throws a head kick that misses
and Cruz counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz misses with a hook.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Bridger throws out a counter right but Cruz avoids it with no problem.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Bridger counters with a head kick. That will keep Cruz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Bridger slips under a jab.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bridger blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Bridger on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz jabs Bridger to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bridger at a distance.
Bridger misses with an uppercut.
Bridger swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruz takes a swing at Bridger's ribcage but misses.
Bridger let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Bridger moved out of range nicely.
Cruz connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Cruz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Pablo Cruz made sure he mentioned Stoner's Killer Apparel, along with how happy he was to win his fight.