PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucien Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian McNee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian McNee has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lucien Cruz's chin.

Cruz
vs
McNee

204 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucien 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, Damian McNee!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz forces McNee back against the cage and clinches.

Cruz jumps guard and drags McNee to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
McNee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McNee can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McNee landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz can't keep his opponent in guard - McNee advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNee stops Cruz from getting back to his feet.
McNee should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

McNee is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Cruz as he works his way to full guard.
McNee wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
McNee must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McNee is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McNee in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McNee trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cruz scores with a takedown into McNee's guard.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McNee looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

McNee closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
McNee trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McNee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz working for submissions but it's allowed McNee to get to half guard.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McNee pulls his head out easily.
McNee throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz is pressing down on McNee's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucien Cruz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McNee tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McNee to the ground. McNee escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McNee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McNee clinches with his opponent.
Cruz stalls.

McNee gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cruz regains guard.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McNee is controlling him.
McNee connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McNee is aware though and is defending well.

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNee wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
McNee might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cruz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McNee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McNee wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McNee wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
McNee trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

McNee shoots in and gets a takedown into Cruz's guard.

McNee stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McNee tries to sprawl but Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is thwarting McNee's attempts to control the position.
McNee is breathing heavily.
Cruz tries to stand but can't do so whilst McNee controls his leg.
McNee trying to control here.
McNee taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
It looks like Cruz is going to stand back up.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of McNee's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNee trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

McNee actively working from the bottom here.
McNee is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz tries to stand but his hand is stuck under McNee.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McNee taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
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 Lucien Cruz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McNee dives in and grabs Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes down on McNee's head and hops out.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but McNee shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cruz wants the takedown. McNee is fighting it off but Cruz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McNee's guard against the cage.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
McNee trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McNee is trying to hold Cruz in close to prevent damage but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Cruz winds up and cracks McNee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz is thwarting McNee's attempts to control the position.
Cruz is nestled in close to McNee, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McNee doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cruz working over McNee with some ground and pound. McNee looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McNee taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.

McNee is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
McNee is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
Cruz working McNee over with strikes.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of McNee's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McNee on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McNee on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McNee can do to turn this around?
McNee has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McNee is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McNee is looking to improve his position.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucien Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

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