PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Baluros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominick Cruz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Baluros
vs
Cruz

170 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carlos Baluros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Baluros shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baluros has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cruz.
Nice takedown defense from Baluros. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Baluros tries to clinch up

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
Baluros tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Baluros tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.

Cruz gets control of Baluros's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz pulls Baluros in to control the position.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baluros manages to get himself to full guard.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Baluros knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Baluros throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Cruz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Baluros is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Baluros's guard.
Baluros is breathing heavily.

Cruz stands up and waves to Baluros to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick that Baluros semi-blocks.
Baluros tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
Baluros connects with a knee to the head.

Cruz jumps guard and drags Baluros to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Baluros tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cruz is controlling Baluros's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dominick Cruz.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baluros moves to clinch but Cruz breaks away

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.

Cruz is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Baluros looks calm but he's in trouble here. Cruz gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Baluros is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Cruz lets go of the hold and Baluros can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dominick Cruz!