PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Cruz (ranked 4187 p4p, 4314 weight class) and Jefferson Vera (ranked 463 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cruz
vs
Vera

185 cm
24
160
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nathan Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jefferson Vera!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz blocks a jab.
Cruz connects with the punch.
Nathan Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vera doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Vera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Cruz throws a hook but Vera blocks it.
Vera throws a body shot but no joy.
Vera throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vera takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Vera avoids nicely.
Cruz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cruz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Vera gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.
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!
Cruz prevents a body shot from Vera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Vera manages to get underhooks.
Cruz wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vera pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vera missing with knees to the body.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Vera holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Vera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz is working for takedown but Vera is calmly controlling the position for now.

Cruz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Vera is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.

Cruz is trying to work for a kimura but Vera is defending well.

Cruz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vera has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cruz has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Vera defend it? Cruz steps over the head and cranks it - Vera is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Cruz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nathan Cruz!