PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Dillinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiger Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dillinger comes to the cage accompanied by Randy Orten Theme Song. Tiger Cruz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marcus Dillinger's chin.

Dillinger
vs
Cruz

195 cm
21
210 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Rivers Edge Nutrition
[MMABR]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Dillinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tiger Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dillinger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dillinger fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dillinger looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Dillinger as Cruz shoots in.
Dillinger on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Dillinger scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dillinger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dillinger tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dillinger counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dillinger thows a big elbow that misses.
Dillinger stops Cruz from standing up.
Dillinger won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cruz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dillinger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dillinger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Dillinger is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dillinger has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dillinger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Dillinger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dillinger thows a big elbow that misses.

Cruz has his foot on Dillinger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dillinger works his way back into a safe position though.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Dillinger tries to pass.
Cruz wants to stand up but Dillinger is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dillinger trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Dillinger closes the distance and clinches.

Dillinger jumps guard.

Dillinger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dillinger is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dillinger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Dillinger's legs - danger averted.
Dillinger has a closed guard, preventing Cruz from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillinger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Dillinger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
Dillinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Dillinger throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dillinger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dillinger won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.
Dillinger with a nice head shot there.
Dillinger distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dillinger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dillinger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dillinger is one step ahead there.

Dillinger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cruz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cruz has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Dillinger dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz lands a jab to Dillinger's midsection.
Dillinger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dillinger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.

Dillinger drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz avoiding damage as Dillinger throws knees to the body.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dillinger has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Dillinger pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Good shot there by Cruz.

Dillinger has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dillinger falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to clinch.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Dillinger has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dillinger pulls guard effortlessly.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dillinger managing to control the position.
Dillinger trying to control the position.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

Dillinger isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cruz stacks Dillinger on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cruz!
The ground and pound from Cruz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up and beckons Dillinger to his feet.
Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
Tiger Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz drives through and clinches with Dillinger against the cage.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dillinger has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dillinger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dillinger creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
A frustrated look appears on Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dillinger tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Cruz is trying to drag Dillinger to the mat but Dillinger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dillinger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free but Dillinger has control.
Dillinger lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Dillinger won't allow it.
Dillinger misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dillinger gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marcus Dillinger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiger Cruz.
Dillinger fails to pull guard.
Cruz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dillinger blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Dillinger is trying to trip Cruz. He has hold of a leg but Cruz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Dillinger persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Dillinger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Dillinger 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dillinger's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dillinger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Dillinger had control of the position.

Dillinger looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cruz passes into half guard.
Cruz is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Dillinger manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tiger Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dillinger has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz stalling against the cage.
Dillinger tries to score a body lock takedown but Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz is trying to break free.

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

Dillinger is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dillinger holds on and takes a little breather.

Dillinger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cruz won't allow Dillinger to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dillinger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Dillinger working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dillinger is on top in guard.
Dillinger looking to pass the guard.
Dillinger won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cruz has control of Dillinger's left arm, preventing Dillinger from doing any damage.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dillinger drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cruz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dillinger has Cruz in his guard.
Dillinger has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Dillinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillinger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Dillinger has a closed guard, preventing Cruz from standing up.
Dillinger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dillinger pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.

Dillinger working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dillinger looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marcus Dillinger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dillinger is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
Dillinger trying to control the position.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Dillinger has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Dillinger showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dillinger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Dillinger!