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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matteo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Money (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Money has chosen Not Afraid as his entrance music. Matteo Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 187 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily |
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Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matteo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Money!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Money throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Money's sensitive parts.
Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice body kick from Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that half lands.
Money takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cruz connects with the punch.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Money tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Money somewhat.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Money saw that one coming.
Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Money instigates a clinch.
Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz throws a lazy head kick
and Money counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Money is having none of it.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Money tries to pass.
Money trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Money loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz pulls Money in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Money shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Money keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Money looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Money persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Matteo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Money.
Money shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Money fails to land the takedown.
Money closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cruz quickly recovers to half guard.
Money is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Money lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Money sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cruz defending well though.
Money missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Money has control of the leg.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Money is just content to waste time from the top position. Cruz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cruz has control of Money's left arm, preventing Money from doing any damage.
Money gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Money bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
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!
Money shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Money keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Matteo Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Money shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Money misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Money takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Money circles away quickly and effectively.
Money fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matteo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Money.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Money takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Matteo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Money shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Money shoots in but no luck this time.
Money looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Money avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matteo Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Money takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cruz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Money shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Money.
Money fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cruz!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Cruz lands but Money takes it in his stride.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Money takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cruz pushes Money away with a front kick.
Money closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Money tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Money shoots in but no luck this time.
Money tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz misses with a double jab
and Money counters with a two punch combo.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to bum rush Money with a series of wild strikes but Money uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Money avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Money dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Money on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Money is defended easily by Cruz.
Matteo Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Money tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matteo Cruz dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Money dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on Money's head and hops out.
Money blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Money counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Money cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Money trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz managing to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Money throws a big right hand that misses.
Money trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
We're going to have a standup here because Matteo Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Money has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Money there as he acknowledges the shot.
Money drives through with a takedown into Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Money trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Tom Money hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Money shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Money keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Money gets the takedown into side control.
Money has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Money trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Money lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Money is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.
Money wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Matteo Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Money tries to score with some ground and pound. Cruz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Money comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
The fight is ruled a draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
42% |
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