PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franck Kodjia (ranked 1512 p4p, 182 weight class) and Jorge Cruz Jr (ranked 1640 p4p, 188 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kodjia
vs
Cruz Jr

195 cm
23
275 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

209 cm
24
245 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franck Kodjia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Cruz Jr!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz Jr cracks Kodjia with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kodjia throws a head kick that misses.
Kodjia throws a head kick but Cruz Jr moves out of range.
Cruz Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kodjia has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Holding Cell in the buildup to the fight.
Kodjia throws a body punch but Cruz Jr moves out of range.
Kodjia takes one on the button.
Kodjia throws a hook but Cruz Jr blocks it.
Cruz Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz Jr avoids the head kick by Kodjia.
As Kodjia backs off Cruz Jr throws a huge counter combo but Kodjia manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Cruz Jr.

It looks like Franck Kodjia has been cut.
Cruz Jr circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cruz Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz Jr has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kodjia closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cruz Jr lands with an overhand left.
Cruz Jr moves out of range as Kodjia throws a body kick.
Cruz Jr tries to bum rush Kodjia with a series of wild strikes but Kodjia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kodjia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz Jr avoids the head kick by Kodjia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr takes a swing at Kodjia's ribcage but misses.
Kodjia walks into a jab.
Kodjia throws a body punch but Cruz Jr moves out of range.
Cruz Jr ducks under a wild hook from Kodjia.
Cruz Jr follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kodjia throws a head kick but Cruz Jr moves out of range.
Cruz Jr avoids the head kick by Kodjia.
A cross from Cruz Jr lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kodjia looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz Jr is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr scores with a jab. Kodjia acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cruz Jr lands an overhand right.
Cruz Jr lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kodjia throws a hook to the side of Cruz Jr's head but Cruz Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz Jr looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kodjia throws the left hand but Cruz Jr avoids the punch easily.
Cruz Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A big left from Kodjia misses.
Cruz Jr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kodjia.

Cruz Jr lands a big right hand that sends Kodjia crashing to the mat! Cruz Jr stays standing though and waves Kodjia back to his feet!

Franck Kodjia's cut is getting worse.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz Jr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kodjia throws a right hand that misses
and Cruz Jr counters with a massive hook, right on the button! He's out cold! Damn, that was naaaaaasty! Hopefully he'll be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jorge Cruz Jr!
After winning the bout, Jorge Cruz Jr thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.