PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Payton Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Welcome to the Jungle. This should be fireworks!

Cruz
vs
Wright

168 cm
38
163 lbs
39 - 24 - 0

172 cm
32
164 lbs
21 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 39 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kale Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Payton Wright!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice jab there from Cruz.

It looks like Payton Wright has been cut.
Wright misses with a body shot
and Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wright looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.
Wright lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Wright lands with a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A leg kick checked by Cruz.
Wright tries to land a leg kick but Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Wright counters with a nice body shot.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Wright counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Payton Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wright works Cruz's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cruz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cruz.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Wright pushes Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
Wright misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
Wright's corner calls for a 1-2. Wright obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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 takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cruz takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Kale Cruz has been cut.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Wright counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Good shot there by Wright.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Wright bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wright scores with a push kick.

Wright moves into the clinch.
Cruz taking a breather.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wright lands a body shot.
Wright tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Wright back against the cage.
Wright lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice body kick there by Wright.
Wright tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wright lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
A jab from Wright does it's job there.
Wright closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wright moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cruz misses with a jab to the body
and Wright counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Wright misses.
Wright jabs Cruz right on the nose. Cruz blinks but takes it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A left lands for Wright.
Wright lands a jab to the head.
Wright throws a leg kick but Cruz moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Wright is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Cruz had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nice shot lands for Wright.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Wright scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wright.
Wright throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice jab there from Wright.
Cruz throws a hook but Wright avoids it easily.
Wright misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Payton Wright dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cruz. That's going to slow Wright down.

Cruz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wright looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wright to see if he's OK.
Cruz scores with a couple of short elbows.

Wright throws Cruz to one side and escapes!

Wright feints and as Cruz raises his hands in defense, Wright changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz has Wright pulled in close to control his posture.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz controls Wright momentarily but Wright frees himself.
Kale Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wright working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wright lands a couple of elbows.
Wright forces his way into half guard.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wright.
Wright missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz is looking to control Wright's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright trying to control from Cruz's half guard. Cruz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wright won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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.
Wright is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wright throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wright throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wright's guard. Nice move by Cruz!
Cruz won't allow Wright to get back to his feet.
Wright working a defensive guard but Cruz manages to pass into side control anyway.
Cruz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Wright sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wright's head.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wright keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Wright pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.

Wright wriggles free and stands up.
Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wright shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wright's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Payton Wright will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wright fails with the takedown
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.
Wright slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wright sprawls well initially but Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wright is doing well to control the position and prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
Wright is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wright pushes Cruz off looking to stand but Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
Wright gets full guard.
Wright keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wright is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Wright looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wright manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Wright jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cruz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cruz and Wright has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Wright's best efforts.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Cruz keeping hold of Wright's head, controlling as best he can.
Wright is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Wright throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wright's guard. Nice move by Cruz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wright's head.
Cruz stops Wright from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright working a defensive guard here.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Kale Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working Wright over with strikes.
Wright wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wright regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cruz.
Wright is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz throws a strike but Wright rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kale Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wright 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Payton Wright!
Payton Wright decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.