PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Benedict Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jig Beckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Benedict Cruz
vs
Beckley

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ralph Benedict Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jig Beckley!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beckley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Beckley. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Beckley looking to score a takedown here. Cruz is defending well but Beckley drives through and ends up in Cruz's guard.
Beckley tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckley is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
Beckley sitting in guard here, content to control.
Beckley wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Beckley trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Beckley circles away and keeps his distance.

Beckley has closed the distance and engaged Cruz in a clinch.
Cruz stalling.
Cruz is working for takedown but Beckley is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Benedict Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Beckley won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Beckley tries to pull guard but Cruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Beckley pulls Cruz into guard.
Beckley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beckley looking for a sweep. Not yet Beckley, not yet.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Beckley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Beckley's shoulder, as Beckley tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Beckley but Beckley pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Beckley circles away and keeps his distance.
Beckley is looking for the big counter here.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Beckley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Beckley gets slowly back to his feet.

Cruz gets caught flat footed, as Beckley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Beckley looking to pass the guard.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Beckley controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position.

Beckley gets to his feet - Cruz follows without any prompting.

Beckley throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cruz was covering up waiting for the punch and Beckley finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Cruz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Beckley has picked Cruz up and slammed him! Cruz can't keep hold of the triangle and Beckley manages to pass to side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Beckley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jig Beckley dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.

Beckley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Beckley decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A low kick from Cruz is predictable there
and Beckley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Beckley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Beckley avoids it really well and circles away.
Beckley is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beckley goes for a double leg but Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cruz continues to drive forward.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ralph Benedict Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Benedict Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks the body kick.

Cruz instigates a clinch.
Cruz is trying to push Beckley away but Beckley has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Beckley tries to pull guard but Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually Beckley drops back down to his feet.
Beckley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Beckley smiles and moves away.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Beckley sprawls well. Beckley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Beckley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.

Beckley gets the takedown into side control.

Beckley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Beckley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beckley looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Beckley postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Beckley wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.

Beckley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Beckley drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Beckley wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Beckley is putting a hurting on Cruz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz being controlled for a moment.
Beckley looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cruz is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jig Beckley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Beckley closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Beckley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cruz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Cruz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Beckley escapes and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Beckley stands up.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Beckley counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz wants a takedown.
Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Beckley.
Beckley fails to pull guard.
Beckley stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckley wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Beckley with a knee to the head.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Beckley's elbow.

Beckley breaks the clinch.

Beckley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruz's half guard.
Cruz is pressing down on Beckley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Beckley is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Beckley's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Beckley's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz won't allow Beckley to sweep him here.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Beckley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cruz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Beckley has passed into side control.
Beckley wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Beckley controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckley tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cruz wants to control but Beckley postures up.
Beckley lands an elbow.
Beckley trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.

Beckley decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cruz to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Beckley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Benedict Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beckley tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Cruz is looking for a counter combo.
Ralph Benedict Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jig Beckley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Beckley back to the cage. Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jig Beckley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Beckley 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Jig Beckley!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Jig Beckley!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Jig Beckley!

Jig Beckley wins by unanimous decision!