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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar comes to the cage accompanied by That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rafael Santa Cruz was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 171 cm
34
179 lbs
26 - 17 - 2 |
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180 cm
30
175 lbs
17 - 11 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
26 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muakbar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santa Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Muakbar throws a body shot but no joy.
Muakbar fails with a takedown attempt.
Muakbar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Muakbar in the body.
Muakbar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Santa Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haji Muakbar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Muakbar misses with a body shot.
Santa Cruz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Muakbar drives through with a takedown into Santa Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Santa Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santa Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Muakbar defends easily.
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!
Muakbar working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santa Cruz's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santa Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santa Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Muakbar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Santa Cruz keeping moving, preventing Muakbar from controlling successfully.
Santa Cruz trying to control the position.
Santa Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Muakbar wants to sweep but no luck.
Muakbar is trying to control the position but Santa Cruz postures up.
Santa Cruz stands up over Muakbar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Santa Cruz won't allow Muakbar to sweep him here.
Muakbar is pulling down on Santa Cruz's head to control his posture.
Santa Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Muakbar controls Santa Cruz momentarily but Santa Cruz frees himself.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz won't allow Muakbar to sweep him here.
Muakbar is working hard here to advance position.
Muakbar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Muakbar is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muakbar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santa Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Muakbar has managed to get both his arms back between Santa Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Muakbar 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.
Santa Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Muakbar pushing down on Santa Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Muakbar works his way into full mount!
Santa Cruz working to try and regain half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Muakbar lands with some strikes.
Santa Cruz tries to reverse the position but Muakbar maintains control.
Santa Cruz gets back to half guard.
Santa Cruz is looking for a sweep. Muakbar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Muakbar trying to control from half guard but Santa Cruz is working away.
Muakbar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Muakbar is looking to take a break and control but Santa Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Muakbar is thwarting Santa Cruz's attempts to control the position.
Santa Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muakbar with the ground and pound but Santa Cruz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muakbar lands a couple of decent looking shots.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar is looking to work some ground and pound but Santa Cruz has wrist control.
Santa Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Muakbar forces his way into half guard.
Santa Cruz trying to hold on to Muakbar's head to control him but Muakbar postures up.
Muakbar looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Santa Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Muakbar.
Santa Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Muakbar pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Muakbar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Muakbar is looking to take a break and control but Santa Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santa Cruz is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Haji Muakbar dominated that 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.
Muakbar throws a solid leg kick but Santa Cruz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Muakbar.
Muakbar misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Muakbar fails to land with a series of punches.
Santa Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Muakbar blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Muakbar connects with a jab.
Santa Cruz blocks a jab.
Santa Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Muakbar sprawls well. He's pushed Santa Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Santa Cruz throws a low kick but Muakbar moves out of range easily.
Santa Cruz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Muakbar sees it coming and moves out of range.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Muakbar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santa Cruz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Muakbar thows a left - swing and a miss!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A jab lands there for Muakbar.
A bone on bone clash there as Muakbar blocks the leg kick.
Santa Cruz fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Muakbar checks it well.
Santa Cruz is looking to slow Muakbar down with leg kicks.
Santa Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Muakbar.
Santa Cruz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Muakbar takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Muakbar moved away.
Santa Cruz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Santa Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Muakbar manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Haji Muakbar is winning the standup battle so far.
Decent striking displayed by Santa Cruz there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No luck for Muakbar with that takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz scores with a nice head shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar misses with a kick to the body.
Santa Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Muakbar.
Muakbar checks a low kick from Santa Cruz.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Muakbar.
Santa Cruz tries to score with a low kick but Muakbar moves his leg out of the way.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Muakbar moves out of range easily.
Muakbar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santa Cruz.
A slow jab from Muakbar misses its intended target.
Muakbar doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Santa Cruz counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haji Muakbar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muakbar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santa Cruz's waist but Santa Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Muakbar off to one side.
Muakbar blocks the body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Santa Cruz finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Muakbar misses with a lunging right hand
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Muakbar won't be happy with that.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Santa Cruz scoring with punches from side control.
Santa Cruz landing strikes.
Muakbar tries to bench press Santa Cruz off him but Santa Cruz keeps the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Muakbar's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Santa Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Santa Cruz wants to control but Muakbar is keeping him busy.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Santa Cruz working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Muakbar is trying to control Santa Cruz's posture but Santa Cruz avoids it.
Muakbar holding on.
Santa Cruz is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Muakbar looks calm but he's in trouble here. Santa Cruz gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Muakbar is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Santa Cruz lets go of the hold and Muakbar can pop his arm back in it's socket.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rafael Santa Cruz!
Post fight, Rafael Santa Cruz stared into the camera and said 'I'm fucking good aren't I? Been a pleasure. Coming for the title.'.
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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
57% |
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