PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Cruzeiro (ranked 1065 p4p, 155 weight class) and Murky McTavern (ranked 956 p4p, 141 weight class). Cruzeiro comes to the cage accompanied by Linval Thompson - Jah Jah The Conqueror. Julio Cruzeiro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruzeiro
vs
McTavern

194 cm
23
210 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
205 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Clothing Co.

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Cruzeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Murky McTavern!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruzeiro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McTavern moves away.
McTavern moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McTavern throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Julio Cruzeiro has been cut.
Cruzeiro connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McTavern's hands.
McTavern avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McTavern lands a jab to Cruzeiro's midsection.
Cruzeiro connects with a solid leg kick.
Julio Cruzeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruzeiro works the jab nicely.
McTavern throws a lazy right hand but Cruzeiro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McTavern doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cruzeiro scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McTavern misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cruzeiro counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruzeiro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruzeiro, right into the meat.
Cruzeiro misses with a right hand

and McTavern counters with a takedown into side control.

McTavern is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cruzeiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cruzeiro tries to buck McTavern off but McTavern is having none of it.
McTavern advances to mount.
McTavern wants to control the pace but Cruzeiro is squirming around nicely.
Cruzeiro slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Cruzeiro is positioning himself well to prevent McTavern advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro wants to improve his position but McTavern is controlling well.
Cruzeiro controlling the position for now.
Cruzeiro is trying to control but can't.

McTavern is working for a submission of some sort.
Cruzeiro is staying active underneath McTavern, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McTavern looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

McTavern is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruzeiro has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McTavern in particular looking to stall.

McTavern is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Cruzeiro as he works his way to full guard.
McTavern trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruzeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruzeiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruzeiro, not yet.
Cruzeiro keeping moving, preventing McTavern from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruzeiro avoids the body shot from McTavern.
Nice uppercut there from Cruzeiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro connects with a solid leg kick.
McTavern uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro misses the shot to the body.
Cruzeiro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cruzeiro moves away from the strike by McTavern.
Cruzeiro misses the body punch
and McTavern cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruzeiro thows a leg kick but McTavern checks it
and McTavern counters with a straight right hand.
Cruzeiro looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cruzeiro throws a front kick aimed at McTavern's knee but McTavern avoids it well.
Cruzeiro misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from McTavern misses.
McTavern walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruzeiro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruzeiro's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McTavern ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruzeiro connects with a right hand. McTavern shakes it off.
McTavern takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruzeiro slips a jab from McTavern.
Julio Cruzeiro is winning the standup battle so far.
McTavern uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruzeiro.
McTavern misses with an uppercut. Cruzeiro saw that one coming.
Cruzeiro throws a chopping leg kick but McTavern manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It seemed like McTavern was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruzeiro has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nice body kick from Cruzeiro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McTavern thuds his right hand into Cruzeiro's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruzeiro keeps McTavern at a distance using the push kick.
Cruzeiro looks to score with a jab to the body but McTavern is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruzeiro lands with a good body shot.
Cruzeiro lands a nice shot to the body.
McTavern misses with an uppercut
and Cruzeiro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McTavern looks to land a right hand but Cruzeiro moved out of range.
McTavern looks to throw the jab but Cruzeiro is out of range.
Cruzeiro darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cruzeiro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cruzeiro throws a quick inside leg kick.
McTavern scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
McTavern has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro thows a body kick. McTavern tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McTavern ducks under a wild hook from Cruzeiro.
McTavern is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cruzeiro throws a right hand that misses
and McTavern counters with a right hand to the body.
Cruzeiro jabs McTavern right on the nose. McTavern blinks but takes it well.
Cruzeiro scores with the left hand. McTavern knows he should have avoided that one.
McTavern on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cruzeiro ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McTavern misses with a looping right.

Cruzeiro closes the distance and clinches.
Cruzeiro misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro misses with a punch on the inside.

Cruzeiro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTavern drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cruzeiro!
McTavern throws a hook but Cruzeiro avoids it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cruzeiro.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cruzeiro. McTavern shrugs it off though.
Cruzeiro fakes the leg kick and cracks McTavern in the body.
Cruzeiro throws a leg kick
and McTavern counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruzeiro scoring well with a low kick there.
McTavern moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruzeiro thows a body kick. McTavern tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McTavern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruzeiro manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice cross by Cruzeiro.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McTavern throws an overhand right that lands on Cruzeiro's shoulder, as Cruzeiro tries to avoid the shot.
Cruzeiro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McTavern moves away.
Cruzeiro dips to his left and cracks McTavern with an uppercut!
Cruzeiro feints and then cracks McTavern's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McTavern down.
McTavern on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cruzeiro. Cruzeiro obviously looking to wear him down.
Cruzeiro keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McTavern uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruzeiro.
McTavern looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruzeiro scores with a jab. McTavern acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruzeiro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruzeiro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruzeiro lands with a good body shot.
Cruzeiro digs a good hook to McTavern's body.
McTavern's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cruzeiro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McTavern scrambles back to his feet.
Cruzeiro misses with a low kick.
McTavern swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cruzeiro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McTavern.
Cruzeiro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cruzeiro feints and then cracks McTavern's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McTavern down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McTavern on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cruzeiro. Cruzeiro obviously looking to wear him down.
McTavern has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cruzeiro looks for the body kick but McTavern saw that one coming.
Cruzeiro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruzeiro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from McTavern on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruzeiro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McTavern throws out the jab.
McTavern gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cruzeiro.
McTavern bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cruzeiro's head backwards.
Cruzeiro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid body kick from Cruzeiro.
Nice cross by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Cruzeiro misses
and McTavern counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Julio Cruzeiro's cut is getting worse.
Cruzeiro scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Murky McTavern has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McTavern.
McTavern looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cruzeiro forces McTavern back against the cage and clinches.
McTavern misses with some punches.
Cruzeiro struggles to land a body shot inside as McTavern controls his hands.
Cruzeiro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

McTavern manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cruzeiro stays in close to McTavern's body and controls the position.

McTavern working for a triangle but Cruzeiro defends it easily.
Cruzeiro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Cruzeiro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTavern being controlled here, momentarily.

Cruzeiro stands up and waves to McTavern to follow him.
Cruzeiro throws a lazy right hand but McTavern sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruzeiro misses with a right hand
and McTavern counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruzeiro tries to clinch but McTavern is having none of it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cruzeiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McTavern's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cruzeiro lands a jab to McTavern's midsection.
Cruzeiro lands a glancing blow to the side of McTavern's head.
Cruzeiro lands a leg kick that knocks McTavern off balance momentarily.
Cruzeiro is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd cheers as Cruzeiro lands an impressive looking overhand right. McTavern doesn't seem phased though.
Cruzeiro is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Cruzeiro misses.
A nice side step and McTavern releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cruzeiro cracks McTavern with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McTavern tries to move into range but Cruzeiro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Julio Cruzeiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McTavern has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
McTavern moves out of range of the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Cruzeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruzeiro, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Cruzeiro!
A victorious Julio Cruzeiro thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Murky McTavern was interviewed post fight and said 'Take me back to the sea and throw me to the fishes'.