PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Dominiguez (ranked 3929 p4p, 1917 weight class) and Ezekiel Ithamar (ranked 371 p4p, 203 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Dominiguez
vs
Ithamar

173 cm
41
147
21 - 11 - 0

176 cm
33
145
27 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 21 - 11 - 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 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezekiel Ithamar!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dominiguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ithamar tries to keep at a distance but Dominiguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dominiguez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ithamar 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.

Ithamar drags the fight down to the ground.
Ithamar has a closed guard, preventing Dominiguez from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ithamar is looking for a triangle but Dominiguez pushes his legs off easily.
Dominiguez is looking to stand up but Ithamar won't let him.

Dominiguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dominiguez stands up from Ithamar's guard - Dominiguez perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dominiguez closes the distance and pushes Ithamar back into the cage.
Dominiguez lands a shoulder strike.
Dominiguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ithamar has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Dominiguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dominiguez forces Ithamar back against the cage and clinches.
Dominiguez lands with a right to the head.

Ithamar gets control of Dominiguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ithamar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dominiguez wants to stand but Ithamar has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ithamar has his foot on Dominiguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dominiguez works his way back into a safe position though.

Ithamar looking for a guillotine here but Dominiguez defends easily.
Dominiguez wanted to stand there but Ithamar had control of the position.

Ithamar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ithamar has his foot on Dominiguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dominiguez works his way back into a safe position though.
Dominiguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Dominiguez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ithamar, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been hearing reports that Dominiguez has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Dominiguez pushes Ithamar up against the cage in a clinch.

Ithamar gets control of Dominiguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ithamar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ithamar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dominiguez defends well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dominiguez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ithamar is proving hard to escape from.

Dominiguez gets to his feet - Ithamar follows without any prompting.

Dominiguez drives through and clinches with Ithamar against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ithamar gets control of Dominiguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ithamar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dominiguez is looking to stand up but Ithamar won't let him.

Ithamar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dominiguez is aware though and is defending well.

Dominiguez gets to his feet - Ithamar follows without any prompting.

Ithamar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dominiguez's half guard.

Dominiguez has one foot on Ithamar's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ithamar closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dominiguez's guard.

Dominiguez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ithamar presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ithamar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dominiguez uses from the top position.

Dominiguez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ithamar, up you get!
Cruz Dominiguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dominiguez rushes Ithamar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ithamar successfully pulls guard.

Ithamar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dominiguez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dominiguez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

Dominiguez closes the distance and clinches.
Dominiguez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ithamar backwards.
Ithamar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Ithamar jumps guard and drags Dominiguez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dominiguez gets to his feet. Ithamar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Dominiguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ithamar gets control of Dominiguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ithamar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ithamar thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Dominiguez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ithamar shoots in and bounces Dominiguez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dominiguez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dominiguez enables Ithamar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dominiguez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Dominiguez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Dominiguez scores with a head kick.

It looks like Ezekiel Ithamar has been cut.

Dominiguez rushes Ithamar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dominiguez misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ithamar jumps guard.

Ithamar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dominiguez defends well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dominiguez stands up from Ithamar's guard - Dominiguez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Dominiguez instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dominiguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Dominiguez clinches up against the cage.

Ithamar pulls Dominiguez into guard.

Ithamar has his feet on Dominiguez's thighs here. He's pushed Dominiguez off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Dominiguez screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ezekiel Ithamar!
A very excited looking Ezekiel Ithamar rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.