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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Payton Wright (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 look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 172 cm
31
164 lbs
19 - 12 - 1 |
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168 cm
37
163 lbs
37 - 23 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Payton Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
37 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kale Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Wright is trying to buck Cruz off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz controlling from side mount.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wright sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Wright takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Wright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz working away.
Wright tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wright keeps working.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Cruz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Wright is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cruz lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face as Cruz controls the position.
Wright is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wright sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cruz is putting a hurting on Wright here, landing some big shots from side control.
Wright regains half guard.
Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Wright defends it.
Cruz stops Wright from getting back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wright manages to get to full guard.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wright's head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Wright is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Kale Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Wright fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws the left hand but Wright avoids the punch easily.
Wright staying out of range there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cruz.
Cruz throws out a leg kick but Wright moves out of range and Cruz only half commits.
Wright throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Wright misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Wright saw that one coming.
Wright wants to clinch.
Payton Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wright.
Wright blocks a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Wright - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kale Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wright.
It looks like Kale Cruz has been cut.
Wright ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz throws a hook but Wright avoids it easily.
A jab lands there for Wright.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Wright sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz misses with a hook.
Wright misses with a wild body shot.
Wright shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wright lands with an uppercut that bounces Cruz off the cage and back into range.
Wright scores with a jab to the body.
Wright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Wright ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Wright ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Wright throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wright throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wright swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wright connects with the punch.
Nice shot by Wright.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wright. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz lands a jab to Wright's midsection.
Wright misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cruz throws a right hand that Wright ducks under and follows up with a left that Wright also avoids with ease.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Wright was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Wright misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wright throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz tries to bum rush Wright with a series of wild strikes but Wright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wright throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Wright throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wright takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Wright misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Wright wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wright is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!
Cruz covers up after that shot from Wright.
Wright thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Cruz tries to roll but Wright sticks to his back.
Cruz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Wright is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wright wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Wright thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.
Wright is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Wright.
Cruz can't keep his opponent in guard - Wright advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wright is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Cruz keeping control of the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Payton Wright dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kale Cruz's cut.
That's time! Wright's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
The fight stays on the outside here - Wright looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big right from Wright misses.
Nice shot by Cruz.
Wright is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Wright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Wright doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Cruz tests Wright's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wright slips a jab from Cruz.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wright throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Payton Wright is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Wright.
Cruz throws a low kick but Wright avoids it.
Wright tried to score with a low kick but Cruz checks it.
Wright throws a combination that misses
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruz lands a jab to the nose.
Wright loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz lands a two punch combo.
Wright misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wright sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Wright counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Wright finds it's way through Cruz's defenses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Wright was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wright misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into Wright's guard.
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!
Wright has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cruz has passed into side control.
Cruz cracks Wright with a big elbow.
Wright tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Wright tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Wright is covering up but some of the strikes from Cruz are getting through and doing damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Cruz.
Cruz somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Wright is in bad spot here.
Wright trying to control the hands but Cruz breaks the grip.
Cruz throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Cruz has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Wright.
Cruz controlling well, preventing Wright from escaping the position.
Cruz connects with a big shot to the side of Wright's head.
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 is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Cruz is not going to allow Wright to sit and survive in this position.
Cruz throwing damaging strikes from the back! Wright could be in trouble here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Wright covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Cruz wants to control but Wright is keeping busy.
Wright is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Cruz throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz punches the canvas rather than the man.
Cruz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Wright. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Cruz misses with an elbow to the head.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kale Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kale Cruz!
A victorious Kale Cruz thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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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
80% |
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