PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Dominiguez (ranked 2343 p4p, 245 weight class) and Ma Moru (ranked 2292 p4p, 241 weight class). Moru has chosen Stand Up as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Dominiguez
vs
Moru

173 cm
39
147 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

163 cm
30
148 lbs
18 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cruz Dominiguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ma Moru!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moru moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dominiguez looks to land a combination. Moru sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dominiguez lands with a slapping head kick.
Cruz Dominiguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dominiguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Moru has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Dominiguez fails to land the takedown.
Moru wants to counter with a clinch but Dominiguez pushes him away.
Moru chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dominiguez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Dominiguez moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moru has Dominiguez pressed against the cage, preventing Dominiguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Moru slowing the pace effectively.

Dominiguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dominiguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dominiguez throws a head kick but Moru moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Moru - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominiguez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dominiguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Moru manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Moru there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dominiguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've been told by Dominiguez's head coaches at The Forge that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Moru keeps the fight on the outside.
Dominiguez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Moru counters with a nice uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Dominiguez. Those never looked like landing.
Moru tries to counter by closing the distance.
Dominiguez looks for a takedown but Moru sprawls well.
Dominiguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Moru moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dominiguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dominiguez tries to clinch but Moru is having none of it.
Moru jabs Dominiguez right on the nose. Dominiguez blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moru connects with a solid leg kick.
Dominiguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dominiguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cruz Dominiguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moru tests Dominiguez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moru connects with a solid leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Moru.
Dominiguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Moru throws out a counter right but Dominiguez avoids it with no problem.
Moru throws a wild body kick that Dominiguez sees coming a mile off.
Dominiguez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Moru counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Moru lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dominiguez's sensitive parts.
Moru lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dominiguez throws a combination that misses
and Moru counters with a good low kick that Dominiguez was not able to check.

Dominiguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moru with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Moru on the inside.
Moru slows down the pace here.
Moru lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dominiguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Moru lands a hook to the side of the head.
Moru leaning against his opponent.
Moru pushes Dominiguez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dominiguez is trying to break the clinch but Moru is controlling him.
Moru with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moru stalling in the clinch.
Dominiguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Moru pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dominiguez blocks a head kick by Moru.

Moru clinches.
Moru slowing the pace effectively.
Dominiguez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Moru has Dominiguez pushed against the cage.
Dominiguez is pressed up against the cage. Moru has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dominiguez down to the mat. Dominiguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Dominiguez forces Moru back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moru controlling the action here for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ma Moru 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.

Dominiguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Moru swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Moru only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Moru connects with a leg kick. Dominiguez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Moru cracks Dominiguez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Moru scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Moru lands a really nice looking cross but Dominiguez seems unphased.
A good leg kick by Moru.
Dominiguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dominiguez misses with a kick to the body.
Moru throws a nice head kick!
Nice sprawl there from Dominiguez as Moru shoots in.
Dominiguez tries for a takedown but Moru circles away easily
and Moru connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Moru connects with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moru throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dominiguez's head.
Dominiguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moru defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dominiguez.
It seemed like Moru was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Moru has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dominiguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dominiguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Moru feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dominiguezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Moru swinging wildly here.
Dominiguez misses with a kick to the body.
Ma Moru seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Dominiguez pushes Moru up against the cage in a clinch.
Dominiguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Moru won't allow it.

Moru pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dominiguez rushes Moru and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Moru gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moru pushes Dominiguez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Moru misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dominiguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Moru lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Moru throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dominiguez avoids the elbow strike from Moru, against the cage.
Dominiguez is trying to push Moru away but Moru has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Moru swings wildly with an uppercut but Dominiguez uses good head movement to avoid it.

Dominiguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Moru.
Moru looks to land a left hand but Dominiguez moved out of range nicely.
Dominiguez tries for a takedown but Moru circles away easily
and Moru counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cruz Dominiguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Dominiguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dominiguez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dominiguez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Moru.
Moru scores with a nice strike.
Dominiguez swings for the body but Moru moves out of range.
Moru circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dominiguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab lands there for Moru.
Jab from Moru.
Dominiguez dodges the punch combination from Moru.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dominiguez moves to clinch but Moru breaks away
and Moru counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dominiguez is looking to clinch but Moru is avoiding it.
Moru chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Moru.
Dominiguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moru feints a counter leg kick.
Good shot there by Dominiguez.
Dominiguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dominiguez looks to clinch
and Dominiguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz Dominiguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moru getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Moru looks to land a right hand but Dominiguez moved out of range.
Dominiguez misses with a lunging right hand
and Moru counters with a good low kick that Dominiguez was not able to check.
Moru blocks a head kick by Dominiguez.

Dominiguez closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ma Moru showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dominiguez takes one on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dominiguez is defended easily by Moru.
Moru is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Dominiguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Moru.
Moru tries to clinch but Dominiguez moves out of range.
Dominiguez has his takedown stuffed
and Moru counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Moru. That's going to slow Dominiguez down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Moru tenderised Dominiguez's leg. Dominiguez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dominiguez moves to clinch but Moru breaks away
and Moru counters with a stiff right hand.
Dominiguez slips a jab and a cross from Moru.
Dominiguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Moru manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominiguez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dominiguez tries to clinch but Moru is having none of it.

Dominiguez clinches up against the cage.
Moru lands with a left to the head.
Moru tries to work over Dominiguez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Dominiguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dominiguez pushes Moru up against the cage in a clinch.

Moru breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dominiguez throws a lazy body kick
and Moru counters with a nice low kick that buckles Dominiguez's knee momentarily.
Dominiguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Moru counters with a good low kick that Dominiguez was not able to check.
Moru takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Moru is out of range and Dominiguez settles back down.
Dominiguez with a poor takedown
and Moru counters with a nice low kick that buckles Dominiguez's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cruz Dominiguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dominiguez throws a leg kick
and Moru counters with a left and a right that stings Dominiguez.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Moru finds it's way through Dominiguez's defenses.
Dominiguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And Moru tries to counter it with a takedown but Dominiguez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Moru throws a head kick that half lands.
Moru circles away from the clinch attempt
and Moru counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moru connects with an inside leg kick.
A low kick from Dominiguez misses
and Moru counters with a two punch combo.
Dominiguez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Moru.
Cruz Dominiguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moru lands a nice looking kick to the body. Dominiguez takes a step back to recover.
Dominiguez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Moru scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez tries to clinch but Moru is having none of it.
Moru throws a big counter head kick but Dominiguez avoids it with no problem.
Moru buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Dominiguez.
Dominiguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dominiguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Moru cracks Dominiguez with a good jab.
Dominiguez needs to keep his hands up - Moru had a free shot at his head there.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Dominiguez. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Moru circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Moru lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Moru tries to close the distance and clinch but Dominiguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ma Moru is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dominiguez fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moru thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Dominiguez if he has to take too many more of those.
Jab by Moru.
Moru bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dominiguez tries to clinch up but Moru circles away and keeps his distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moru thuds his right hand into Dominiguez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dominiguez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Moru. Moru obviously looking to wear him down.
Dominiguez misses with a few strikes there.
Moru throws a big counter head kick but Dominiguez avoids it with no problem.
A big right from Dominiguez misses.
Dominiguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dominiguez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dominiguez moves out of range as Moru throws a body kick.
Dominiguez throws a sloppy head kick
and Moru counters with a good low kick that Dominiguez was not able to check.
Dominiguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dominiguez throws a nice looking combination but Moru bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dominiguez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Moru is able to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ma Moru comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Moru has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ma Moru!
Ma Moru seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.