PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 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.

Jaa
vs
Cruz

168 cm
26
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Jaa!
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, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jaa counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz closes the distance but Jaa moves to the side
and Jaa counters with a stiff right hand.

Jaa moves into the clinch successfully.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Cruz is trying to drag Jaa to the mat but Jaa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Cruz.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jaa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Jaa has the dominant position.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Jaa is controlling him.
Jaa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Jaa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jaa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Dominick Cruz has been cut.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jaa walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Jaa clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Jaa lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
Jaa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Jaa has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jaa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jaa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jaa.
Jaa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jaa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cruz up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Jaa stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa misses with a knee strike.
Jaa effectively controlling the action here.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Jaa is controlling the position.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Jaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tony Jaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Jaa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Jaa stalling the fight.
Jaa lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa prevents a takedown attempt there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cruz wants a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.

Jaa closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Jaa.
Jaa landing knees to the head.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Jaa has double underhooks.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Jaa lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Jaa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Jaa landing knees to the body.
Jaa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Jaa is stalling here.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Jaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cruz looks gassed!
Jaa circles away from the clinch attempt

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Jaa holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
A bit of stalling here from Jaa.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Jaa holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dominick Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jaa misses with a body shot
and Cruz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jaa.
Cruz wants to break free but Jaa has control.
Jaa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jaa has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Jaa.
Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Jaa has double underhooks.
Jaa landing knees to the head.
Jaa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Jaa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Jaa.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Jaa keeps him there for the moment.
Jaa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Jaa throws a lazy head kick
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Tony Jaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz misses with a takedown

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Jaa leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Jaa.
Jaa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Jaa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Jaa lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jaa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Cruz.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa stalling against the cage.
Jaa prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee calls for Jaa to work.
Jaa working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jaa lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cruz throws an elbow but misses.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jaa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jaa.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cruz tries to stall but Jaa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tony Jaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cruz jumps guard but Jaa stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

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.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Jaa manages to get underhooks.
Jaa stalling the fight.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jaa smiles and moves away.
Jaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz with a poor takedown

and Jaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The referee calls for Jaa to work.
Jaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cruz jumps guard but Jaa stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jaa lands a damaging elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dominick Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jaa stalling against the cage.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Jaa landing knees to the body.
Jaa just leaning against Cruz, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Jaa for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Cruz looks to clinch

and Jaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jaa with a knee to the head.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jaa lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Jaa lands a nice elbow.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jaa fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Jaa moves into the clinch.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jaa stalling the fight.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jaa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Jaa is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa scores with a knee to the head.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
Jaa misses with a knee to the head.
Tony Jaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jaa has Cruz pushed against the cage.
Cruz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jaa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Cruz.

Jaa clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Jaa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nice elbow from Jaa.
Jaa lands a nice elbow.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jaa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Jaa has double underhooks.
Jaa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Jaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jaa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jaa avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Tony Jaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jaa lands a high kick!

Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Jaa. Jaa maintains the clinch.
Jaa is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jaa down to the mat. Jaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Jaa closes the distance and clinches.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cruz is trying to push Jaa away but Jaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jaa is stalling here.
Jaa seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jaa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Jaa!