PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cruz
vs
Drake

215 cm
43
232 lbs
38 - 26 - 0

198 cm
29
270 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 26 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, David Drake!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Drake sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Drake throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Drake's hands.
Drake misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz moves out of range as Drake strikes.
Drake misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Drake misses the jab.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a jab to the body
and Drake counters with a big head kick but Cruz shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Drake misses with a head kick.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Drake. Drake obviously looking to wear him down.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Drake misses with a combination
and Cruz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drake thinking.
Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like David Drake has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Drake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Drake counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz swings for the body but Drake moves out of range.
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz is looking to wear down Drake with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drake moves away.
Drake connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
David Drake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drake looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz connects with a crisp jab.
Drake throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Drake.
Drake uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
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!
Drake feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Drake then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Drake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drake closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Drake misses with some punches.
Drake prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.
Drake lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Drake has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Drake misses with an elbow over the top.
A frustrated look appears on Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz tries to circle away but Drake has him pinned against the cage.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cruz blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Drake fails to land.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake misses with a looping right.
Drake misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Drake.
Drake misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Cruz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Drake throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz sizes up Drake with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cruz throws a body punch but Drake moves out of range.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Drake.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Drake's head.
A shot to the liver by Drake. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz moves out of range as Drake strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz scores with a hook.
Cruz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Drake wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Drake ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Drake swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz misses with a hook
and Drake counters with a leg kick.
Cruz throws the left hand but Drake avoids the punch easily.
Drake fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drake.

Drake has managed to clinch.
Cruz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drake misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Drake keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but David Drake will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on David Drake's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz lands a jab to Drake's midsection.
Drake attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Drake.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Drake.
Cruz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Drake scores with a jab.
Drake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.
Drake throws a jab when Cruz was well out of range.
Drake throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Drake throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Drake wants to land a leg kick but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz moves out of range as Drake strikes.
David Drake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz connects with a body shot.
Drake throws a low kick but Cruz moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Cruz catches Drake right on the button with a cross.
Drake throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drake. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Drake jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Drake shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Drake throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Drake misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Drake slips the punch.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.
Drake moves out of range as Cruz strikes.
A lazy left from Drake finds it's target.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Drake.
Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Drake can pounce on him.
Cruz misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drake is looking to clinch.
Drake thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Drake wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
Drake lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Drake takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Drake fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Drake thuds his right hand into Cruz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Drake takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Drake closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake looking to slow down the pace here.
Drake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Drake has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Drake misses with a punch on the inside.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Drake avoids it well.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz slips under a jab from Drake.
Drake fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cruz on the side of the head.
Drake avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Drake.
David Drake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Drake.
Drake moves forwards but Cruz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Drake throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz misses the body punch
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Drake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz lands with a right hand.
Cruz throws a hook but Drake avoids it easily.
Drake tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Drake is out of range.
Drake connects with a right hand. Cruz shakes it off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz throws the left hand but Drake avoids the punch easily.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Drake.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drake doesn't seem phased though.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drake.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jorge Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on David Drake's cut.
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!

Drake wants to clinch.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Drake.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz connects with a crisp jab.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Drake bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drake is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Cruz throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab by Drake.

Cruz drops Drake with a beautiful combination! Drake stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Cruz is looking for the KO!

Drake is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz throws an uppercut from hell that sends Drake clean off his feet! He's out cold! Cruz stands back and admires his work as he thinks about that KO of the night award that is surely being wrapped up for him back stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jorge Cruz!
In his post fight interview, Jorge Cruz started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.