PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alek Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I'm Not Afraid. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cruz
vs
Mikhailov

195 cm
18
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
189 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alek Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikhailov cracks Cruz with an open hand slap.

It looks like Anthony Cruz has been cut.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mikhailov.

Cruz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cruz prevents Mikhailov from getting back to his feet.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is staying tight to Mikhailov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Mikhailov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
A lull in the action here.
Cruz prevents Mikhailov from escaping the position.
You can see the frustration on Mikhailov's face as Cruz controls the position.
Cruz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mikhailov for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mikhailov slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz slips under a jab from Mikhailov.
Cruz throws a good cross that connects.
Mikhailov tries to clinch up.
Mikhailov just misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mikhailov to score with a decent uppercut.
Mikhailov looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mikhailov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mikhailov thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alek Mikhailov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Anthony Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters circling - Mikhailov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz moves out of range as Mikhailov throws a body kick.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mikhailov.
A swing and a miss from Mikhailov.
Mikhailov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mikhailov moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Mikhailov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mikhailov throws a head kick that misses.
Mikhailov is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cruz looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cruz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cruz won't let Mikhailov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cruz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Cruz is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cruz looking to control and managing it successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mikhailov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mikhailov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cruz passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mikhailov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Cruz's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Mikhailov wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz passes into half guard.
Mikhailov is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a little break here. Mikhailov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mikhailov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mikhailov seems a little lost for a moment, as Cruz dominates the positioning.
Mikhailov is not content to let Cruz control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cruz clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Cruz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mikhailov misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Cruz is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mikhailov is surviving well by controlling Cruz's body position as best he can.
Mikhailov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mikhailov wants to try and get back to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz controlling the pace for now.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cruz shoots in and bounces Mikhailov off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz prevents Mikhailov from getting back to his feet.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mikhailov keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cruz had his way with Alek Mikhailov in that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Cruz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mikhailov missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A slow jab from Mikhailov misses its intended target.
Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Mikhailov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mikhailov misses with a takedown

and Cruz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mikhailov's guard now.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Mikhailov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mikhailov manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Mikhailov's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mikhailov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Anthony Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cruz just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mikhailov throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mikhailov misses with a takedown attempt

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mikhailov won't be happy with that.
Cruz slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cruz 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 49:46
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 49:46
Judge George Francis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Cruz!