PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinichi Fuujin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Welcome to the Jungle. Fuujin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Soilwork - Rejection Role kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Fuujin

168 cm
29
163 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

178 cm
27
162 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

>>> Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 (159++ Recovery)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kale Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinichi Fuujin!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cruz checks a leg kick.
Fuujin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cruz. That did some damage!
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Fuujin counters with an inside leg kick.
Fuujin throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Fuujin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kale Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fuujin scores with the left hand. Cruz knows he should have avoided that one.
Fuujin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz sizes up Fuujin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Shinichi Fuujin has been cut.
Fuujin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fuujin connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice cross by Cruz.
Fuujin scores with a kick to the body.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuujin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Cruz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fuujin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fuujin throws a shot to the body.
Shinichi Fuujin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fuujin.
Fuujin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fuujin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fuujin.
Fuujin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fuujin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Fuujin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fuujin throws a leg kick but Cruz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Fuujin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz throws a jab when Fuujin was well out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Fuujin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Fuujin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fuujin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Fuujin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fuujin throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Fuujin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz jabs Fuujin right on the nose. Fuujin blinks but takes it well.
Fuujin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Fuujin throws a leg kick that misses.
Fuujin lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
A slow jab from Fuujin misses its intended target.
Fuujin looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Cruz is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Fuujin scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fuujin.
Cruz throws a series of strikes that have Fuujin backpedaling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz moves out of range as Fuujin throws a body kick.
Fuujin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz throws a hook but Fuujin avoids it easily.
Fuujin misses with a low kick.
Fuujin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fuujin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fuujin manages to avoid it.
Fuujin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shinichi Fuujin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shinichi Fuujin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Fuujin throws a front kick aimed at Cruz's knee but Cruz avoids it well.
Fuujin stuffs the takedown.
Fuujin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fuujin.
Cruz misses with an uppercut
letting Fuujin counter with a right hand.
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Fuujin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fuujin swivels and escapes.
Fuujin throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fuujin manages to avoid it.
Fuujin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Fuujin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shinichi Fuujin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz misses with a hook. Fuujin ducked under it nicely.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Fuujin.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fuujin.
Fuujin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz takes a swing at Fuujin's ribcage but misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fuujin. Cruz shrugs it off though.
Fuujin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Fuujin's head but Fuujin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab lands there for Cruz.
Fuujin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
An inside leg kick lands from Fuujin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz scores with a sloppy right hand. Fuujin should have avoided that one.
Fuujin throws a leg kick that misses.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fuujin moves away.
Good exchange - Cruz coming out on top.
Fuujin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Fuujin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fuujin misses the shot to the body.
Fuujin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fuujin throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cruz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cruz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fuujin tries to work over Cruz's front leg with a kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Cruz avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fuujin.
Cruz throws a jab when Fuujin was well out of range.
Fuujin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Fuujin's head but Fuujin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fuujin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Kale Cruz has been cut.
Fuujin throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fuujin throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries 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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
Fuujin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fuujin avoids the body shot from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinichi Fuujin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fuujin slips under a jab.
Fuujin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Fuujin.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fuujin.
An inside leg kick from Fuujin misses.
Fuujin wants to slow Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Cruz lands a head shot.
Fuujin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Fuujin's shoulder, as Fuujin tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fuujin counters with a head kick.
Cruz moves out of range of the leg kick from Fuujin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fuujin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz throws an off balance right hand
and Fuujin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cruz thinking.
Fuujin throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Fuujin moved out of range.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot by Fuujin.
Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fuujin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cruz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cruz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A cross from Fuujin lands.
Fuujin looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Cruz misses.
Fuujin misses the shot to the body.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Fuujin sprawls well.
Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Fuujin throws a low kick, looking for Cruz's leg but Cruz calmly moves out of range.
Fuujin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fuujin.
A good leg kick by Fuujin.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fuujin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
You can see the frustration on Fuujin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz wants to control but Fuujin is keeping him busy.
Cruz in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position but Fuujin is working away.
Fuujin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is trying to control. Fuujin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Fuujin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Kale Cruz did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fuujin thumps Cruz with a low kick.
Fuujin misses with a few strikes there.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
Fuujin looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Fuujin slips the punch.
Cruz takes a swing at Fuujin's ribcage but misses.
Cruz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Good shot there by Fuujin.
Cruz swings for the body but Fuujin moves out of range.
Fuujin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cruz finds it's way round the side to connect with Fuujin's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Fuujin counters with a body kick.
Fuujin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Fuujin lands a nice shot to the body.
Cruz misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Fuujin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A low kick from Fuujin is predictable there
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fuujin slips under a jab.
Fuujin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Fuujin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fuujin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fuujin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz misses with a hook. Fuujin ducked under it nicely.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fuujin.
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!
A leg kick checked by Cruz.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fuujin.
Fuujin scores with a leg kick.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fuujin.
Fuujin ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Fuujin counters with an inside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fuujin.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Donk. Fuujin catches Cruz right on the button with a cross.
Fuujin dips to his left and cracks Cruz with an uppercut!
Fuujin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fuujin avoids the body shot from Cruz.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fuujin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Fuujin sprawls well.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fuujin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cruz.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fuujin was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fuujin manages to avoid it.
Fuujin wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Fuujin misses the shot to the body.
Cruz cracks Fuujin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fuujin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fuujin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinichi Fuujin dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Fuujin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Fuujin throws a nice head kick!
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz lands with a nice body punch.
Cruz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Fuujin moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Fuujin avoids them all with ease.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Fuujin blocks a jab.
Fuujin misses with a head kick.
Fuujin misses with a leg kick.
Fuujin misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz lands with a hook. Fuujin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fuujin wants to get back to full guard but Cruz has passed into side control.

Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fuujin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fuujin tries to improve position but can't.
Shinichi Fuujin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Fuujin is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Fuujin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Fuujin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Cruz.
You can see the frustration on Fuujin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fuujin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cruz working the body and head with strikes.
Kale Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz controls the position from side control.
Cruz wants to control but Fuujin is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Fuujin's face as Cruz controls the position.
Fuujin is trying to improve his position.
Cruz trying to control the position but Fuujin is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kale Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fuujin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 47:48
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shinichi Fuujin!