PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen T.I - Big Shit Poppin as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tate
vs
Cruz

189 cm
27
215 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

187 cm
27
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tate shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Tate as Cruz shoots in.
Tate shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tate misses with a body shot.
Cruz misses with a takedown

and Tate moves into the clinch.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Tate blocks it.
Cruz lands a knee to the body.

Tate turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tate manages to end up in side control.
Tate in side control lands a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tate tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tate has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tate misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Tate.
Check out the look on Tate's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cruz is not content to let Tate control the position.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Tate drags him back down.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face as Tate controls the position.
Tate creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cruz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Tate misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate with the ground and pound but Cruz regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tate lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tate thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tate slips a nice elbow through Cruz's hands, connecting with Cruz's forehead.
Tate throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Tate wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.

Tate is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tate scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tate throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Tate is looking for a kimura here.
Cruz tries to roll over but Tate keeps him under control.
Tate lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate moves into full mount! Cruz won't be happy about that!

Tate looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tate 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.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Tate wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.

Tate is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Tate dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tate shoots in and gets a takedown into Cruz's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tate accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tate is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tate missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tate throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.

Tate is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tate trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate passes into half guard.
Tate is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cruz gets back to full guard.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tate.

Tate thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tate throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate content to stall in guard here.
Tate postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Tate trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tate's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Tate drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cruz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cruz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cruz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate is looking to reverse the position.
Tate is working hard here to advance position.
Tate is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.

Cruz stands up.
Tate shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Tate avoids them all with ease.
Tate closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz pushes Tate away with a front kick.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tate paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tate decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tate stops Cruz from getting back to his feet.

Tate is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz wants to control but Tate is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Tate dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tate gets a takedown into half guard.
Cruz has hold of Tate's hands but Tate slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tate trying to control from Cruz's half guard. Cruz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Tate throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tate is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz is trying to keep Tate in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tate shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tate gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Tate circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tate pinned against the cage. Tate gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tate fails with a takedown attempt.

Tate closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cruz did well to prevent Tate getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.

Tate is looking for a kimura here.

Tate is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tate working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bobby Tate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Tate.
Tate perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tate wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Nick Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tate is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tate.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Tate showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tate, 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Tate!
After winning the bout, Bobby Tate thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.