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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Protacio Jawo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santa Cruz comes into the arena with 50 cent P.I.M.P blaring out of the sound system. Jawo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rusty Cage kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jose Protacio Jawo enters the cage!
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| 180 cm
29
175 lbs
15 - 9 - 0 |
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175 cm
36
180 lbs
32 - 21 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
32 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Protacio Jawo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz with a jab.
Jawo cracks Santa Cruz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jawo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santa Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jawo sprawls well initially but Santa Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Santa Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jawo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Santa Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Santa Cruz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santa Cruz is pressing down on Jawo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jawo is holding on for now.
Santa Cruz controlling the action here.
Jawo is trying to get back to full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jawo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jawo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Jawo is looking to improve his position.
Santa Cruz is keen to just control but Jawo is a slippery customer.
Jawo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santa Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Well, if Santa Cruz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Santa Cruz trying to pass the guard but Jawo defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz controlling the pace.
Santa Cruz misses with a head shot. Jawo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Jawo wants to sweep but no luck.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jawo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santa Cruz throws an elbow that misses. Jawo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santa Cruz's guard. Nice move by Jawo!
Santa Cruz has his foot on Jawo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jawo works his way back into a safe position though.
Santa Cruz is looking to sweep but instead, Jawo has passed into half guard.
Jawo is controlling the pace.
Santa Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jawo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jawo's back!
Jawo can't escape the position.
I would not like to be Jawo right now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz is trying to stick to Jawo's back but Jawo is turning into Santa Cruz. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Santa Cruz's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jawo.
Jawo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Santa Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jawo is one step ahead there.
Santa 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.
Jawo being controlled here momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jawo wants to stand but Santa Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jawo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Jose Protacio Jawo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jawo tries to land a leg kick but Santa Cruz saw it coming and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Jawo lands with a right hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jawo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jawo shoots for a double leg takedown but Santa Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Jawo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jawo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jawo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santa Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Jawo.
We've been told by Santa Cruz's head coaches at Jef Li's MMA(13 coaches, 49 cap) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Santa Cruz slips a jab from Jawo.
Jawo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jawo throws a good cross that connects.
Jawo throws a hook but Santa Cruz blocks it.
Jawo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jawo is looking to land body kicks.
Santa Cruz lands with a good body shot.
Jawo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jawo throws a leg kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
Jawo throws the left hand but Santa Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Jawo in the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jawo.
Jawo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jose Protacio Jawo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jawo tries to clinch but Santa Cruz is having none of it.
Santa Cruz lands a front kick.
Santa Cruz lands with an uppercut that bounces Jawo off the cage and back into range.
Jawo misses with a wild combination.
Jawo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz cracks Jawo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Santa Cruz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jawo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Jawo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jawo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from Jawo.
Jawo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Jawo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santa Cruz connects with a leg kick. Jawo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but Jawo moves out of range easily.
Jawo blocks a leg kick.
Jose Protacio Jawo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is looking to chop away at Jawo's legs.
Jawo looks to land a combination but Santa Cruz avoids it well.
Santa Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Santa Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Jawo tries to close the distance and clinch but Santa Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Jawo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Santa Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jawo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santa Cruz motions for Jawo to come forward. Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jawo.
Santa Cruz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jawo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Santa Cruz is fending him off so far but Jawo persists. Nope, Santa Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Jawo tries to clinch but Santa Cruz is having none of it.
Jawo with a jab.
Jawo throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Jawo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rafael Santa Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Protacio Jawo.
A big right from Jawo misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jawo throws a nice looking combination but Santa Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jawo is breathing heavily.
Santa Cruz scores with a three punch combo!
Santa Cruz pushes Jawo away with a front kick.
Jawo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Santa Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Santa Cruz scores with a push kick.
Santa Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Santa Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
Santa Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Santa Cruz uses his free foot to push down on Jawo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jawo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santa Cruz landing strikes, looking to finish!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz punching from mount but Jawo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Jawo is trying to escape the mount.
Rafael Santa Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santa Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Santa Cruz avoids the attempt from Jawo to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santa Cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Santa Cruz lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Jawo wants to slow Santa Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Jawo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Santa Cruz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Santa Cruz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Santa Cruz tries to score with a low kick but Jawo moves his leg out of the way.
Jawo moves out of range of the body kick from Santa Cruz.
Rafael Santa Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Santa Cruz wants to land a leg kick but Jawo is out of range.
Santa Cruz walks into a left hand.
Good leg kick by Santa Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Good standup being displayed there by Santa Cruz as he connects with a hook.
Santa Cruz dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jawo. That did some damage!
An inside leg kick from Santa Cruz misses.
Santa Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jawo looks to land a combination but Santa Cruz avoids it well.
Santa Cruz throws a wild body kick that Jawo sees coming a mile off.
Jawo shoots and misses
and Santa Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santa Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Jawo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jawo regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Jawo keeps moving.
Santa Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santa Cruz passes Jawo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Santa Cruz.
Jawo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Santa Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Jawo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santa Cruz is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jawo keeping moving, preventing Santa Cruz from controlling successfully.
Jose Protacio Jawo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santa Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Jawo.
Jawo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz stands up over Jawo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rafael Santa Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santa Cruz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Santa Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santa Cruz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Santa Cruz wants to control from the top but Jawo keeps moving.
Santa Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Jawo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jawo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jawo throws a big right hand that misses.
Santa Cruz is trying to keep Jawo in close.
Santa Cruz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jawo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santa Cruz lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jawo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santa Cruz.
Jawo throws a shot from downtown. Santa Cruz moves away and avoids it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Santa Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Rafael Santa Cruz made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'm fucking good aren't I? Been a pleasure. Coming for the title.'.
Jose Protacio Jawo was interviewed post fight and said 'I hurt....I really do.'.
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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
77% |
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