PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Cruz (ranked 2129 p4p, 1740 weight class) and Miles O Brien (ranked 155 p4p, 132 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Daddy Yankee / Gasolina. 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.

Cruz
vs
O Brien

178 cm
34
150
17 - 16 - 0

172 cm
32
152
17 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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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 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pablo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miles O Brien!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Brien throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Donk. O Brien catches Cruz right on the button with a cross.
O Brien tries to move into range but Cruz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A big left from O Brien misses.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice jab there from Cruz.
Cruz throws a hook but O Brien blocks it.
O Brien throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and O Brien counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Pablo Cruz has been cut.
O Brien tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and O Brien counters with a straight right hand.

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz swings for the body but O Brien moves out of range.
O Brien looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cruz throws out a loose jab but O Brien uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
O Brien uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz lands with a hook. O Brien tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
O Brien gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cruz.
O Brien tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pablo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Brien tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
O Brien looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from O Brien! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

O Brien waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Cruz to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
O Brien throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
O Brien trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Brien working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
O Brien throws a strike but Cruz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from O Brien.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cruz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by O Brien.
O Brien misses with a straight right.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but O Brien manages to avoid it.
O Brien lands a nice shot to the body.
O Brien lands a jab to the head.
O Brien keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
O Brien unleashes a big counter combination but Cruz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Cruz throws a big counter combination but O Brien scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cruz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch lands to the side of O Brien 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but O Brien is just out of range.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.

O Brien takes the fight into the clinch.

O Brien pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz punishes O Brien's body with a nice straight punch.
O Brien is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien slips under a jab from Cruz.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from O Brien! But no joy.
Cruz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. O Brien was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Danga de danga de dang - Cruz scores with a four punch combination!
O Brien takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
O Brien blocks a jab.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Brien was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
O Brien fails with an attempt to clinch.
O Brien uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
O Brien moves out of range as Cruz strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

O Brien breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

O Brien gets a clinch.
O Brien throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by O Brien.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by O Brien.
Cruz takes a shot to the head.
Cruz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as O Brien controls his hands.
Cruz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cruz misses with some punches.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
O Brien shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but O Brien keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
O Brien walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Brien was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by O Brien.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pablo Cruz's cut.
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.

O Brien keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
O Brien looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
O Brien moves forwards but Cruz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
O Brien might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
O Brien tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Cruz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cruz with a hook.
Cruz throws a right hand that O Brien ducks under and follows up with a left that O Brien also avoids with ease.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cruz, as that shot connected.
Cruz digs a good hook to O Brien's body.
Pablo Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
O Brien tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but O Brien uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Brien bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz jabs O Brien right on the nose. O Brien blinks but takes it well.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Cruz connects with a single shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Brien tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Good shot there by O Brien.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Brien bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Cruz finds it's way through O Brien's defenses.
O Brien misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but O Brien sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It seemed like O Brien was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruz looks to land a combination but O Brien avoids it well.
Cruz looks to land a combination. O Brien sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that O Brien can do to turn this around?
O Brien takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pablo Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by O Brien.

O Brien pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
O Brien jumps guard but Cruz stands there with O Brien around his waist. O Brien gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent O Brien's takedown attempt.
O Brien has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cruz seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if O Brien can turn it around.
Pablo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miles O Brien.
O Brien has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
O Brien tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruz smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
O Brien throws out a counter right but Cruz avoids it with no problem.
Cruz tests O Brien's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cruz looks to land a right hand but O Brien moved out of range.
Good shot there by Cruz.
O Brien uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
O Brien tries to clinch up.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz with a jab.
Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
O Brien doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
O Brien slips under a jab.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Brien looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. O Brien doesn't seem phased though.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
O Brien tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
O Brien tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Cruz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from O Brien.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but O Brien is out of range.
Cruz misses with a straight right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
O Brien tries to pull guard but Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually O Brien drops back down to his feet.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cruz pushes O Brien back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cruz tries a body shot but O Brien blocks it.
O Brien tries to pull guard but Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually O Brien drops back down to his feet.
O Brien has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from O Brien.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a left to the head.
Cruz lands with a right to the head.
O Brien misses with a punch on the inside.
O Brien prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz misses with some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Cruz.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by O Brien.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
O Brien is trying to force a seperation but Cruz has the dominant position.
Pablo Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.

O Brien breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
O Brien tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz blocks a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pablo Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
O Brien tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
O Brien throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz lands with a hook. O Brien tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
O Brien doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
O Brien takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
O Brien ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz cracks O Brien with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

O Brien moves into the clinch.
Cruz misses with the head strike.
A short right from Cruz.

O Brien breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz misses with a hook. O Brien ducked under it nicely.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

O Brien moves into range and clinches up with Cruz.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as O Brien controls his hands.
Cruz digs a right hand into O Brien's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on O Brien's gas tank.
O Brien scores with a shoulder strike.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but O Brien uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cruz.
Cruz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
O Brien has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
A shot in the inside from Cruz.
Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Brien looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brien blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cruz scores with a shot to the side of O Brien's head.
O Brien jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. O Brien gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz's corner calls for a 1-2. Cruz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
O Brien tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz misses with a body punch
and O Brien counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
O Brien tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
O Brien wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
O Brien defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz throws a hook but O Brien avoids it easily.
Cruz misses with an uppercut
and O Brien counters with a nice uppercut.
O Brien fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Cruz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
O Brien throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz dips to his left and cracks O Brien with an uppercut!
Cruz connects with the punch.
O Brien is looking to clinch.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and O Brien counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Cruz gets tackled into the cage by O Brien. O Brien maintains the clinch.
O Brien tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
Pablo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miles O Brien.
O Brien jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Brien blocks an uppercut.
Cruz is leaning against O Brien and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
O Brien is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cruz to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz tries to work over O Brien's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
O Brien tries to pull guard but Cruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but O Brien uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of O Brien backwards.
O Brien lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Miles O Brien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
O Brien lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Cruz!
Pablo Cruz very nearly forgot to thank Stoner's Killer Apparel amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.