PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joel de la Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

de la Cruz
vs
Martinez

187 cm
19
203 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joel de la Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez lands with a good body shot.
Martinez throws a right and a left that de la Cruz avoids nicely.
Martinez misses with a few strikes there.
Martinez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but de la Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Martinez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Martinez.
Martinez misses with a jab, cross combination.
de la Cruz takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Martinez throws a jab but it's blocked by de la Cruz.
Martinez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
de la Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martinez as he avoids it easily.
Martinez tries a low kick but de la Cruz avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Martinez.

de la Cruz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Martinez!

de la Cruz looking to secure an arm triangle but Martinez defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is working to get back to half guard.
de la Cruz avoids the attempt from Martinez to control.
de la Cruz tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.
de la Cruz looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

de la Cruz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Martinez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Martinez and de la Cruz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Martinez manages to work his way to half guard, despite de la Cruz's best efforts.
de la Cruz stalling.
Martinez is holding on to half guard well.
de la Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to stand up here but de la Cruz is controlling him well.
de la Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Martinez defends it.
de la Cruz passes the guard and advances to mount!
Martinez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Martinez prevents de la Cruz from taking his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

de la Cruz is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Martinez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Martinez tries to lock up and control but de la Cruz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

de la Cruz is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Martinez has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Martinez!
Martinez trying to control but de la Cruz is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Martinez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Joel de la Cruz has been cut.
de la Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Martinez cracks de la Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
de la Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
de la Cruz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Martinez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but de la Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Martinez misses with a double jab.
Martinez throws the kick towards the body but de la Cruz avoids it.
Nice sprawl there from Martinez as de la Cruz shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel de la Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by de la Cruz.
Martinez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
de la Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
de la Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de la Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Martinez swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de la Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl out of it but de la Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martinez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
de la Cruz avoids the body shot from Martinez.
Martinez throws a series of punches but de la Cruz avoids them all with ease.
Martinez throws a combination. de la Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
de la Cruz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
de la Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martinez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
de la Cruz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ricardo Martinez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martinez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. de la Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
de la Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ricardo Martinez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Martinez throws a right hand that de la Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that de la Cruz also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Martinez looks to land a combination but de la Cruz avoids it well.
Martinez throws a head kick but de la Cruz moves out of range.
Martinez throws a series of punches but de la Cruz moves out of range.
Martinez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A clash of legs there as de la Cruz blocks the low kick.
A lazy left from Martinez finds it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Martinez.
Martinez scores with a three punch combo!
Martinez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Martinez misses with the combination.
Martinez lands with a hook. de la Cruz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez stuffs the takedown attempt from de la Cruz. de la Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
de la Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Martinez stuns de la Cruz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Martinez misses its intended target.
Martinez catches de la Cruz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Martinez works over de la Cruz's head and body with a nice combination.

Joel de la Cruz's cut is getting worse.
Martinez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
de la Cruz dodges the punch combination from Martinez.
Martinez lands an overhand right.
Martinez throws a series of punches but de la Cruz avoids them all with ease.

de la Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Martinez to the mat! Martinez manages to get full guard.
Martinez trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
de la Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martinez is keeping the position for now.
de la Cruz stops Martinez from standing up.
de la Cruz won't allow Martinez to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez wants to stand but de la Cruz is controlling the position.

de la Cruz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Martinez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Martinez has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joel de la Cruz's cut.
That's time! de la Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Martinez tries to land a leg kick but de la Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
de la Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martinez.
Martinez lands a two punch combo.
Martinez misses with a head kick.
Martinez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of de la Cruz's head.
Martinez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from de la Cruz.
de la Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Martinez looks to land a combination. de la Cruz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Martinez throws a hook but de la Cruz blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Martinez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of de la Cruz's head.
de la Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Martinez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martinez throws a right hand that de la Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that de la Cruz also avoids with ease.
Martinez lands a lovely overhand right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from de la Cruz is defended easily by Martinez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel de la Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez looks to land a combination but de la Cruz avoids it well.
Martinez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of de la Cruz's head.
de la Cruz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Martinez misses with a wild body shot.
Martinez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martinez misses with a few strikes there.
de la Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
de la Cruz dodges the punch combination from Martinez.
Martinez looks to land a combination but de la Cruz avoids it well.
Martinez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ricardo Martinez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

de la Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.

de la Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Martinez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Martinez manages to kick de la Cruz off! de la Cruz jumps back into Martinez's guard.
de la Cruz stays in close to Martinez's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Martinez holds on and takes a little breather.
de la Cruz wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Martinez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
de la Cruz blocks a head kick by Martinez.
Martinez throws a nice looking combination but de la Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Martinez throws a front kick aimed at de la Cruz's knee but de la Cruz avoids it well.
Martinez thuds a left hand into de la Cruz's body.
de la Cruz avoids the head kick by Martinez.

de la Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joel de la Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Martinez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
de la Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Martinez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Martinez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Martinez!