PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jean Sibelius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen Welcome to the Jungle as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Kale Cruz enters the cage!

Sibelius
vs
Cruz

175 cm
30
165 lbs
25 - 6 - 0

168 cm
35
163 lbs
34 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Untouchable Fight Nutrition
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Sibelius!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kale Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sibelius throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Sibelius is just out of range.
Cruz cracks Sibelius with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Jean Sibelius has been cut.
Cruz with a jab.
Sibelius throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sibelius connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sibelius ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sibelius ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sibelius checks a leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sibelius.
Sibelius works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cruz is looking to chop away at Sibelius's legs.
Sibelius misses with a straight left.
Sibelius catches Cruz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibelius pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Sibelius walks into a stiff left hand from Cruz.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Sibelius tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sibelius manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Sibelius connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sibelius lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kale Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Cruz misses.
Sibelius moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Sibelius slips the punch.
Sibelius getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice cross by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Sibelius cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sibelius scores with a nice strike.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Cruz throws a leg kick that misses.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sibelius manages to avoid it.
Sibelius doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sibelius takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sibelius doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sibelius ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sibelius stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sibelius finds it's way round the side to connect with Cruz's head.
Sibelius is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sibelius slips under a jab.
Cruz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sibeliuss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a sloppy right hand. Sibelius should have avoided that one.
Sibelius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Sibelius ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sibelius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sibelius counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sibelius is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sibelius connects with a nice looking jab.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Sibelius ducks down to avoid it.
Sibelius will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sibelius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Sibelius swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sibelius throws out the jab.
Cruz throws a push kick but Sibelius slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sibelius darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sibelius tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sibelius throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sibelius misses with a wild combination.
Sibelius misses the shot to the body.
Sibelius misses with a wild combination.
Sibelius throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cruz on the side of the head.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sibelius.
Cruz scores with a jab.

Jean Sibelius's cut is getting worse.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz throws a head kick but Sibelius moves out of range.
Good shot there by Sibelius.
Sibelius defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sibelius comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sibelius is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sibelius getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Decent striking displayed by Sibelius there.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Sibelius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Sibelius scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Sibelius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sibelius stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sibelius wants it to stay on the feet.
Jean Sibelius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kale Cruz.
Sibelius displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Sibelius scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Sibelius scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sibelius throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Sibelius's head but Sibelius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Cruz misses.
A shot to the liver by Sibelius. Beautiful body shot.
Sibelius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Sibelius slips a straight right by Cruz.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.

Sibelius gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sibelius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Sibelius wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Sibelius working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Cruz has his foot on Sibelius's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sibelius works his way back into a safe position though.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sibelius throws a big elbow that misses.
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!
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sibelius postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sibelius is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Cruz trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sibelius throwing strikes but missing.
Sibelius lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Sibelius has gone for a leg lock! Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sibelius's guard.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sibelius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sibelius is on top in guard.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sibelius slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kale Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jean Sibelius's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sibelius slips a jab from Cruz.
Sibelius checks a low kick from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a right hand

and Sibelius counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz controlling the position.
Sibelius wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Sibelius wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Sibelius postures up.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Sibelius tries to pass.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sibelius is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sibelius's head.
Sibelius makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sibelius.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Sibelius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sibelius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sibelius tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cruz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jean Sibelius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cruz defending well though.
Sibelius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Sibelius wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Sibelius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sibelius from controlling successfully.
Sibelius with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sibelius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sibelius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sibelius manages to get himself to full guard.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sibelius keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Sibelius.
Sibelius keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sibelius's head.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sibelius swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sibelius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Sibelius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sibelius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sibelius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sibelius from controlling successfully.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Sibelius controlling him for the moment.
Sibelius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sibelius manages to get himself to full guard.
Sibelius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sibelius pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cruz is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Cruz working to try and regain half guard.

Cruz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sibelius.
Sibelius breaks from Cruz's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Sibelius.
Sibelius throws some wild stikes that Cruz manages to avoid easily.
Sibelius dominating with strikes here.
Cruz wants to control but Sibelius is having none of it.
Sibelius looking to ground and pound but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Sibelius lands a heavy elbow.
Sibelius pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Cruz is rocked!

It looks like Kale Cruz has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sibelius with the ground and pound from mount.
Cruz is still in real trouble! Can Sibelius finish him?
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Cruz in real trouble here! The ref calls for Cruz to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jean Sibelius!
Jean Sibelius retains his lightweight title!
A victorious Jean Sibelius thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.