PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Soma Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yushin Tai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cruz
vs
Tai

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Soma Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushin Tai!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tai keeps the fight on the outside.
Tai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Tai has the dominant position.
Cruz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Yushin Tai has been cut.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tai off to one side.

Cruz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tai regains half guard.
Tai trying to control here.
Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Tai is working away.
Cruz wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Tai uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Tai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tai had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cruz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tai Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cruz's back instead.

Cruz defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Tai's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cruz trying to control but Tai is working from the bottom.

Tai has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Tai looks gassed!
Cruz passes Tai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tai has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to stand up but Tai is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tai manages to get to full guard.

Cruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Tai working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cruz trying to control but Tai is working from the bottom.
Tai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tai is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Tai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cruz feints and as Tai raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz tries to stand but Tai is controlling from the bottom.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Tai keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tai has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Cruz should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Tai has tightened it up now! Cruz should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yushin Tai!