PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Decebal Cretu (ranked 2960 p4p, 1641 weight class) and Mbuti Bayaka (ranked 278 p4p, 167 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cretu
vs
Bayaka

178 cm
18
160
4 - 1 - 0

163 cm
26
163
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Wrestler Wayfare
BANZAI 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 4 - 1 - 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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mbuti Bayaka!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bayaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cretu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bayaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bayaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bayaka blocks a body shot from Cretu.
Bayaka lands a hook to the side of the head.

Cretu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Bayaka with that takedown attempt.
Mbuti Bayaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bayaka fails with the takedown
letting Cretu counter with a right hand.
Cretu keeps the fight on the outside.
Bayaka tries to clinch
and Cretu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Bayaka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bayaka lands with a left to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bayaka.
Cretu has a couple of punches blocked by Bayaka.
Cretu misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bayaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Cretu.
Still in the clinch, Cretu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cretu swings wildly with an uppercut but Bayaka uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cretu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bayaka throws a head punch that misses.
Cretu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bayaka takes a shot to the head.
Cretu digs a right hand underneath Bayaka's ribcage. Bayaka let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Cretu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bayaka closes the distance and clinches up with Cretu, looking for a takedown. Bayaka pushes Cretu against the cage but Cretu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Decebal Cretu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mbuti Bayaka.
Cretu scores with a jab.
Cretu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bayaka clinches.
Bayaka misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Bayaka.
A shot in the inside from Cretu.
Cretu scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body punch from Bayaka.
Cretu struggles to land a body shot inside as Bayaka controls his hands.

Cretu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cretu looks to land a right hand but Bayaka moved out of range.
Bayaka moves in looking to clinch but Cretu pushes him off.
Cretu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cretu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bayaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cretu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bayaka has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cretu throws an overhand right that lands on Bayaka's shoulder, as Bayaka tries to avoid the shot.
Cretu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bayaka.
Bayaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cretu as he jumps to the side.
Bayaka is looking to clinch.

Bayaka forces Cretu back against the cage and clinches.
Cretu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cretu blocks an uppercut.
Bayaka is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cretu is defending well.
Bayaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Cretu.
Bayaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cretu lands a hook that snaps the head of Bayaka backwards.
Cretu prevents a body shot from Bayaka.

Cretu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bayaka tries to clinch but Cretu moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bayaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bayaka throws a head punch that misses.
Cretu has a couple of punches blocked by Bayaka.
Cretu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bayaka's elbow.
Cretu swings wildly with an uppercut but Bayaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Bayaka fails to land.
Cretu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bayaka backwards.
Bayaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cretu misses with the head strike.
Cretu lands with a right to the head.
Bayaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cretu lands a shot to the body.
Cretu lands with a short shot to the head.
Cretu prevents a body shot from Bayaka.
Cretu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bayaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bayaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bayaka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cretu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cretu tests Bayaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cretu gets tackled into the cage by Bayaka. Bayaka maintains the clinch.
Cretu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bayaka's elbow.
Cretu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bayaka misses with some punches.
Bayaka misses with some punches.
Cretu misses with a punch on the inside.

Cretu breaks from the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Bayaka.
Bayaka tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cretu defends well and Bayaka ends up having to push Cretu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bayaka closes the distance but Cretu moves to the side
and Cretu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cretu misses with a wild body shot.
Bayaka feints the counter takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bayaka moves into the clinch.
Bayaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Cretu controls his hands.
Bayaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Decebal Cretu dominated that round.
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.

Bayaka wants to clinch.
Cretu throwing a counter right hand but Bayaka manages to avoid it.
Good exchange - Cretu coming out on top.
Cretu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bayaka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cretu counters with a stiff right hand.
Bayaka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cretu circles away.
Cretu is looking for a counter combo.
No luck for Bayaka with that takedown attempt.
Decebal Cretu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mbuti Bayaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bayaka misses with a takedown attempt
and Cretu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Cretu tries to keep at a distance but Bayaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cretu working aggressively here.

Cretu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cretu is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bayaka tries to clinch
letting Cretu counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayaka misses with a takedown
and Cretu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cretu keeps the fight on the outside.
Bayaka tries to clinch but Cretu moves out of range.
Cretu swats away the attempt to clinch by Bayaka.
Bayaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cretu counters with a stiff right hand.
Bayaka ducks right into an uppercut from Cretu.
Cretu looks to score with a jab to the body but Bayaka is just out of range.
Bayaka avoids the body shot from Cretu.

Bayaka instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bayaka.
Cretu working aggressively here.
Cretu misses with some punches.
Bayaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Cretu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cretu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cretu lands a body punch.
Cretu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cretu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bayaka tightens his grip and picks Cretu up, before dumping him to the ground. Cretu manages to land in guard.
Bayaka is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bayaka preventing the sweep.
Cretu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bayaka.
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.
Bayaka lands a couple of elbows.
Bayaka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bayaka preventing the sweep.
Bayaka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bayaka throwing strikes from guard but Cretu blocks nicely.
Bayaka postures up in Cretu's guard and throws a big left but Cretu blocks it.
Bayaka throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayaka is looking to work some ground and pound but Cretu has wrist control.
Cretu looking for a sweep. Not yet Cretu, not yet.
Bayaka throwing strikes from guard but Cretu blocks nicely.
Cretu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bayaka scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bayaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cretu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bayaka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bayaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bayaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cretu as he jumps to the side.
Bayaka is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cretu keeps the fight on the outside.

Bayaka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cretu has momentary wrist control but Bayaka slips an elbow through the middle.
Cretu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bayaka throws an elbow that misses. Cretu uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bayaka's guard. Nice move by Cretu!

Bayaka wants to hit a sweep here but Cretu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bayaka there!
Cretu prevents Bayaka from getting the reversal.
Cretu controlling from the full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Decebal Cretu dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cretu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cretu misses with a looping right.

Cretu tries to keep at a distance but Bayaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Decebal Cretu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cretu lands with a short shot to the head.
Cretu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bayaka can do to turn this around?
A short left from Cretu.
Cretu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cretu.
Bayaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cretu digs a right hand underneath Bayaka's ribcage. Bayaka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bayaka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cretu lands an uppercut.
Cretu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cretu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cretu misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Cretu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bayaka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bayaka has Cretu pressed against the cage, preventing Cretu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bayaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bayaka.
Cretu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cretu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cretu throws a punch but it's blocked by Bayaka.
Cretu blocks an uppercut.
Cretu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cretu throws a head punch that misses.
Cretu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cretu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bayaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bayaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bayaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cretu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bayaka blocking some punches.
Cretu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cretu lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bayaka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayaka can't get the takedown.
Cretu misses with a punch to the body.
Cretu swings wildly with an uppercut but Bayaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bayaka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cretu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bayaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cretu avoids it really well and circles away.
Mbuti Bayaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Decebal Cretu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mbuti Bayaka.
Bayaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bayaka moves into the clinch.
Bayaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cretu is working Bayaka over against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cretu.
Bayaka lands with a left to the head.
Cretu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bayaka.
A right hook to the body lands for Cretu.
Cretu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bayaka backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cretu misses with a body punch.
Cretu can't find room to land a body shot as Bayaka controls the action.
Bayaka misses with some punches.
Cretu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bayaka.
Cretu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cretu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cretu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cretu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cretu.
Cretu pushes Bayaka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cretu lands with a short shot to the head.
Cretu blocking some punches.
Cretu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bayaka.
Cretu working aggressively here.
Cretu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cretu blocks an uppercut.
Bayaka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cretu.
Cretu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cretu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bayaka lands a right hand.
Cretu working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bayaka.
Cretu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bayaka is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cretu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cretu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bayaka scores with a shoulder strike.
Bayaka blocking some punches.
Decebal Cretu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A hook to the body from Cretu.
Bayaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cretu swings wildly with an uppercut but Bayaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cretu.
Cretu lands with a left to the head.
Cretu struggles to land a body shot inside as Bayaka controls his hands.
Cretu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bayaka lands a nice uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Cretu.

And that's the end of the fight!
Decebal Cretu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cretu, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Decebal Cretu!
Decebal Cretu decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.