PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Steve Jr (ranked 1921 p4p, 1002 weight class) and Darian Cruz (ranked 217 p4p, 126 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steve Jr
vs
Cruz

170 cm
26
150
10 - 7 - 0

171 cm
31
145
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Core Combat

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Steve Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darian Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve Jr connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Steve Jr slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cruz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Steve Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steve Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Steve Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Steve Jr's head.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Steve Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steve Jr keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steve Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cruz trying to control but Steve Jr is working from the bottom.
Cruz stands and throws Steve Jr's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Check out the look on Cruz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve Jr is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cruz connects with a decent elbow.
Steve Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz cracks Steve Jr with a big right hand but Steve Jr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cruz just content to control the position.
Cruz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Steve Jr tries to bench press Cruz off him but Cruz keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to move to mount but Steve Jr blocks the move with his legs.
Cruz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Steve Jr some visible discomfort.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steve Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cruz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Steve Jr is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cruz working the head with strikes.
Cruz lands a few punches from side control.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Steve Jr to see if he's OK.
Cruz working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Steve Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz lands a nice forearm strike.
Cruz trying to control the position but Steve Jr is working away.
Cruz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Steve Jr taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
Steve Jr is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Steve Jr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steve Jr is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Cruz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Cruz trying to control but Steve Jr is having none of it.
Cruz is landing with some decent strikes but Steve Jr is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cruz with good strikes from the mount here!
Steve Jr squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Cruz.
Steve Jr is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Steve Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.
Steve Jr's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cruz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cruz controlling the position easily from mount.
Cruz working the ground and pound effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve Jr sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cruz connects with a nice short shot to Steve Jr's temple.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Steve Jr is defending the position.
Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darian Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve Jr.
Steve Jr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz throws a one two combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Steve Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve Jr drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Steve Jr avoids the body shot from Cruz.
A quick step to the side and Steve Jr tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steve Jr counters with a nice uppercut.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Steve Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cruz.
Steve Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steve Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Cruz is looking for a takedown.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Steve Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
George Steve Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darian Cruz.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Steve Jr won't allow it.
Steve Jr softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steve Jr has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Steve Jr fails to land.
Steve Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Steve Jr.
Steve Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cruz tries to land knees in the clinch but Steve Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Steve Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
The referee calls for Steve Jr to work.
Steve Jr misses with some punches.
Steve Jr pushes Cruz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cruz blocking some punches.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Steve Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bit of stalling here from Steve Jr.
A short body shot lands from Steve Jr as the two fighters clinch.
Steve Jr lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Steve Jr is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Steve Jr creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Steve Jr misses with some punches.
Steve Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve Jr keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Steve Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steve Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Steve Jr fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Steve Jr counters with a left to the body.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve Jr.
Cruz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Steve Jr doesn't seem bothered though.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Steve Jr at a distance.
Darian Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve Jr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steve Jr misses with a straight left.
Cruz misses with a left hand
and Steve Jr counters with a straight right hand.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steve Jr dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Steve Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Steve Jr avoids it well.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Steve Jr swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steve Jr is looking to counter punch.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
enabling Steve Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Steve Jr gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George Steve Jr!
George Steve Jr thanked the fans post fight for their support.