PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Blachowicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Blachowicz
vs
Cruz

188 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Hellbent
{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jan Blachowicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ted Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to clinch but Blachowicz moves out of range.
Cruz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Blachowicz is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Blachowicz loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
We've been told by Blachowicz's head coaches at Coolidge's MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blachowicz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blachowicz.
A shot in the inside from Cruz.

It looks like Jan Blachowicz has been cut.
Cruz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cruz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cruz receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blachowicz takes a shot to the head.
Blachowicz is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruz just leaning against Blachowicz, taking a breather.
Cruz digs a right hand into Blachowicz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Blachowicz's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Good body shot from Cruz.
Cruz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Blachowicz backwards.
Blachowicz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Cruz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Blachowicz regains guard immediately.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Blachowicz keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blachowicz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blachowicz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz stands up and waves to Blachowicz to follow him.
Blachowicz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blachowicz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Blachowicz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cruz is leaning against Blachowicz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
Blachowicz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cruz is struggling to control the position.
Blachowicz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz has Blachowicz pressed against the cage, preventing Blachowicz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hook to the body lands for Cruz.
Blachowicz wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.
Blachowicz tries to circle away but Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Cruz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cruz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Blachowicz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Blachowicz's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Blachowicz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz lands a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jan Blachowicz's cut.
That's time! Blachowicz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cruz instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Blachowicz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Ted Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Blachowicz is trying to break free.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cruz.
Cruz stalling against the cage.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Blachowicz's head.
Blachowicz is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blachowicz down to the mat. Blachowicz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blachowicz throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Blachowicz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blachowicz lunges at Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cruz's hand.
Nice shot lands for Blachowicz.
Cruz lands a jab to Blachowicz's midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Blachowicz. Those never looked like landing.
Blachowicz wants to slow Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Cruz throws a body punch but Blachowicz moves out of range.
Cruz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jan Blachowicz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cruz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cruz cracks Blachowicz with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short right from Cruz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz slowing the pace effectively.
Blachowicz prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right handed body shot lands from Cruz.
Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cruz.

Jan Blachowicz's cut is getting worse.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cruz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for Cruz to work.
Blachowicz tries to circle away but Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
A short uppercut from Cruz.
Blachowicz tries to break free but Cruz pushes him back against the cage.
Blachowicz prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blachowicz's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blachowicz backwards.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blachowicz tries to break free but Cruz pushes him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Cruz.
Cruz lands with a light punch inside.
Cruz slowing the pace effectively.
Blachowicz blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz pushes Blachowicz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blachowicz is trying to break the clinch but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blachowicz backwards.
Cruz leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jan Blachowicz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

Cruz clinches up against the cage.
Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Blachowicz avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Blachowicz wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stalling the fight.
Blachowicz takes a shot to the head.
Cruz lands a right hand.
Cruz taking a breather.
Blachowicz is looking to break free of the clinch but Cruz has double underhooks.
Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Blachowicz being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ted Cruz.
Blachowicz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Ted Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blachowicz throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Blachowicz throws a right hand that misses

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blachowicz's guard.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blachowicz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cruz stands up from Blachowicz's guard - Cruz perhaps looking for a knockout.
A nice combination there by Blachowicz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blachowicz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Blachowicz's head.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jan Blachowicz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blachowicz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cruz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Blachowicz is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz tries to work over Blachowicz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz has Blachowicz pressed against the cage, preventing Blachowicz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Blachowicz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ted Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ted Cruz!