PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ron Austin (ranked 6160 p4p, 3664 weight class) and Jared Cruz (ranked 106 p4p, 49 weight class). Ron Austin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Austin
vs
Cruz

200 cm
23
223
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
190
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

KOMBAT KLOTHING

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ron Austin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jared Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Austin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cruz pinned against the cage. Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Austin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Austin is looking to counter punch.

Austin scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Cruz pulls Austin in close to prevent any damage.
Cruz has a closed guard, preventing Austin from standing up.
Austin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz seems keen to control Austin's posture.

Austin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Austin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Austin is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
Austin being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Austin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cruz's coach down at EFC Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cruz's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Austin defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Austin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ron Austin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jared Cruz.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Austin is defended easily by Cruz.
Cruz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Austin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Austin keeps working.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cruz working over Austin with some ground and pound. Austin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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 Austin's temple.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cruz working Austin over with strikes.
Austin taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Austin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Austin tries to get out of the position.
Austin is breathing heavily.
Cruz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Austin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cruz lands a big elbow.
Cruz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cruz dominating with strikes here.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Austin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Austin looks a forlorn figure.
Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Austin looks a forlorn figure.
Cruz with a couple of short strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cruz lands with some strikes.

Austin is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Austin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oh Austin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cruz postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Austin in real trouble here! The ref calls for Austin to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jared Cruz!
Jared Cruz really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that EFC Threads logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.