PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Decebal Cretu (ranked 3403 p4p, 3021 weight class) and Hrvoje Vinkovic (ranked 337 p4p, 297 weight class). Hrvoje Vinkovic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cretu
vs
Vinkovic

178 cm
17
160
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
170
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Decebal Cretu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hrvoje Vinkovic!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cretu gets caught napping as Vinkovic dives in and scores a takedown. Cretu manages to retain guard.
Cretu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vinkovic throwing strikes but missing.
Cretu seems keen to control Vinkovic's posture.
Vinkovic sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cretu's guard.
Vinkovic wants to free his trapped foot but Cretu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cretu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vinkovic on the ground.
Cretu is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinkovic is looking to take a break and control but Cretu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cretu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vinkovic.
Vinkovic is taking a breather. Cretu 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinkovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vinkovic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cretu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vinkovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cretu's head.
Vinkovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cretu's head.
Cretu is trying to control but can't.
Vinkovic trying to control the pace.
Cretu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vinkovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cretu's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vinkovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vinkovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vinkovic wants to free his trapped foot but Cretu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vinkovic stalling away here and it's allowed Cretu to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cretu keeping moving, preventing Vinkovic from controlling successfully.
Vinkovic won't allow Cretu to sweep him here.
Cretu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vinkovic controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cretu looks to score with a jab to the body but Vinkovic is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cretu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cretu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinkovic.
Cretu takes one to the chin there.
Decebal Cretu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cretu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vinkovic.
Cretu dives in and grabs Vinkovic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vinkovic pushes down on Cretu's head and hops out.
Vinkovic with the counter takedown but Cretu avoids it easily.
Cretu throws a sloppy body shot
and Vinkovic counters with a straight right hand.
Cretu ducks right into an uppercut from Vinkovic.
Vinkovic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cretu has time to react.
Vinkovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cretu under the eye.
Vinkovic takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice jab there from Cretu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vinkovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vinkovic wants to counter the offense by Cretu and move into the clinch position.
Vinkovic misses with a looping right.
Cretu takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cretu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vinkovic manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Vinkovic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A slow jab from Vinkovic misses its intended target.
Vinkovic misses with an uppercut.
Vinkovic slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Cretu misses its intended target.
Cretu slips under a jab from Vinkovic.
Hrvoje Vinkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vinkovic throws a hook but Cretu blocks it.
Vinkovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vinkovic misses with a hook. Cretu ducked under it nicely.
Vinkovic throws an overhand right that lands on Cretu's shoulder, as Cretu tries to avoid the shot.
Cretu is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vinkovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cretu.
Vinkovic throws a hook but Cretu blocks it.
Vinkovic misses with an uppercut. Cretu saw that one coming.
Vinkovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cretu lands with an uppercut that bounces Vinkovic off the cage and back into range.
Cretu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Cretu.
Cretu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vinkovic in his tracks.
Vinkovic throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Cretu to counter with a crisp jab.
Vinkovic swings widly with a right hand
and Vinkovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cretu misses with a straight left.
Vinkovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cretu.
Cretu was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinkovic takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jab by Vinkovic.

Cretu gets caught flat footed, as Vinkovic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vinkovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cretu being controlled here, momentarily.
Vinkovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cretu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cretu tries to get out of the position.
Cretu is not content to let Vinkovic control the position.
Vinkovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cretu regains half guard, as Vinkovic was trying to land strikes.
Vinkovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vinkovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cretu defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vinkovic is taking a breather. Cretu 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.
Vinkovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vinkovic is looking to advance position but Cretu won't allow it.
Vinkovic is looking to stall here but Cretu recovers full guard.
Vinkovic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vinkovic passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic lands with a punch from half guard.
Cretu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vinkovic.
Vinkovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vinkovic sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vinkovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cretu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vinkovic.
Vinkovic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vinkovic moves into full mount! Cretu won't be happy about that!
Vinkovic misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic trying to control but Cretu is having none of it.
Vinkovic postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cretu looks a forlorn figure.
Vinkovic lands a couple of good shots and Cretu has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Vinkovic thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Vinkovic keeps control of the position easily here as Cretu tries to buck him off.
Cretu rolls, trying to escape but Vinkovic keeps control of the position.

Vinkovic is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cretu is defending well though. Vinkovic let's go of the attempt for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hrvoje Vinkovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cretu misses with a body shot.
Vinkovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Cretu.
Cretu throwing a counter right hand but Vinkovic manages to avoid it.
Cretu throws a big shot that misses.
Vinkovic takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A swing and a miss from Cretu.
Vinkovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cretu.
Cretu takes a swing at Vinkovic's ribcage but misses.
Vinkovic 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.
Vinkovic throws an overhand right that lands on Cretu's shoulder, as Cretu tries to avoid the shot.
Cretu is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vinkovic connects with a single shot there.
Cretu misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinkovic connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cretu. Cretu circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vinkovic looks to throw the jab but Cretu is out of range.
Cretu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cretu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vinkovic finds it's way round the side to connect with Cretu's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinkovic ducks under a wild hook from Cretu.
Cretu looks to throw the jab but Vinkovic is out of range.
Vinkovic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Vinkovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cretu.
Vinkovic 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.
Vinkovic throws a shot from downtown. Cretu moves away and avoids it.
Cretu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cretu throws a hook but Vinkovic avoids it easily.
Good shot there by Vinkovic.
Cretu lands a jab to Vinkovic's midsection.
Cretu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vinkovic.
Vinkovic looks to clinch
and Cretu counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Cretu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Vinkovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vinkovic throwing shots but Cretu is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cretu is staying active underneath Vinkovic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vinkovic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Cretu is defending against the submission attempts here by Vinkovic.
Vinkovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vinkovic throws a strike but Cretu avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cretu is keeping the position for now.
Vinkovic pushing down on Cretu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vinkovic controlling the action here.
Vinkovic frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Vinkovic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vinkovic controlling the position easily from mount.
Decebal Cretu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Vinkovic thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Vinkovic throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cretu prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Vinkovic throws some wild stikes that Cretu manages to avoid easily.
Vinkovic throws some wild stikes that Cretu manages to avoid easily.
Hrvoje Vinkovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cretu is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hrvoje Vinkovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vinkovic 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hrvoje Vinkovic!
A very excited looking Hrvoje Vinkovic made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.