PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Angelo Death (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Death
vs
Cruz

185 cm
19
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

194 cm
26
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Angelo Death!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ted Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Roberts and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Death just misses with a punch to the body.
Death throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Death was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Death misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Death is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.
Cruz continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cruz misses with some punches.
Cruz's coach down at HARRY'S was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cruz's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nice body punch from Cruz - that landed with a thud.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cruz lands a left hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Death controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Cruz - that landed with a thud.
Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.
Death blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cruz.
Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Death uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Death controls the action.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Cruz tries to work over Death's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Still in the clinch, Cruz scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cruz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cruz pushes Death back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz tries a body shot but Death blocks it.
A short right from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Cruz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Death takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Death lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
Death throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Death digs a good body shot into Cruz's ribs.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Death blocks a body shot from Cruz.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Death is trying to stall.
Cruz lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Death wants to stall.
Death blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cruz digs a right hand underneath Death's ribcage. Death let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cruz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz stalling against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Death's elbow.
Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Death.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Death controls the action.
Cruz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cruz stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ted Cruz.
Death connects with a right hand. Cruz shakes it off.
Cruz swings for the body but Death moves out of range.
Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Death lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Death controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
Cruz is working Death over against the ropes.
Cruz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cruz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cruz stalling in the clinch.
Ted Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Death avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the ropes.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Death controls the action.
Cruz lands a body shot.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Death throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Death throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Death is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Death.
Death lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Death lands a lovely overhand right.
A telegraphed right hand from Death misses the target.
Death throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Death misses with a hook

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Death fights it but they end up in guard.
Death looking for a sweep. Not yet Death, not yet.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Death is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Death had control of the position.
Death keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Death.
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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Death looking to slow down the pace here.
Death blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Cruz has Death pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Death manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Death stalling in the clinch but Cruz improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Death being controlled against the ropes.
Death is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cruz is keeping busy.
Angelo Death has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Death has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Angelo Death.
I think Cruz 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

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