PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Miquel Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miquel Mendoza is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mendoza
vs
Cruz

165 cm
22
147 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
146 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miquel Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendoza moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Mendoza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.

Mendoza rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Mendoza trying to land knees to the body.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.

Mendoza gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cruz regains guard.
Mendoza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendoza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mendoza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mendoza works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mendoza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mendoza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendoza is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mendoza 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.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendoza is pressing down on Cruz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruz is holding on for now.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendoza.
Mendoza thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.
Mendoza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendoza content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendoza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza thows a huge punch but Cruz dodges it nicely.
Mendoza thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendoza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendoza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruz won't allow Mendoza to pass to mount.
Mendoza is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz looks gassed!
Mendoza is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mendoza postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cruz to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Mendoza pushes Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendoza creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mendoza lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Mendoza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mendoza missing with knees to the body.
Mendoza lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mendoza with a knee to the head.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Mendoza.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mendoza is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Mendoza.
Cruz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Mendoza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz has momentary wrist control but Mendoza slips an elbow through the middle.
Mendoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.
Mendoza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miquel Mendoza 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.

Mendoza clinches with his opponent.
Mendoza landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.

It looks like Dominick Cruz has been cut.
Mendoza lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Mendoza working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mendoza.
Cruz takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendoza working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Mendoza lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Mendoza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Mendoza creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.
Mendoza putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mendoza gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza with a knee to the head.
Mendoza lands a damaging elbow.
Mendoza lands a knee to the body.
Mendoza landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mendoza stalling in the clinch.
Mendoza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mendoza.
Mendoza throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mendoza obliges.
Mendoza landing knees to the body.
Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendoza comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mendoza scores a nice knee to the body.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mendoza throws an elbow but misses.
Mendoza creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Mendoza.

Mendoza has hold of one of Cruz's legs. Cruz is fighting the takedown attempt but Mendoza gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mendoza trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendoza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mendoza with a nice head shot there.
Mendoza is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.

Mendoza stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mendoza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mendoza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mendoza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendoza seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendoza trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendoza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendoza scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miquel Mendoza dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mendoza's corner calls for a 1-2. Mendoza obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Mendoza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mendoza working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Mendoza comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mendoza landing knees to the head.
Cruz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mendoza obliges.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside.
Mendoza crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Mendoza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendoza lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Mendoza landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Mendoza.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow.
Mendoza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside.
Mendoza pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mendoza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.
Mendoza lands a damaging elbow.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Mendoza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza has hold of one of Cruz's legs. Cruz is fighting the takedown attempt but Mendoza gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mendoza stops Cruz from standing up.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mendoza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mendoza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendoza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza works over Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendoza is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Mendoza slips nicely into half guard.
Mendoza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Mendoza is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendoza to get the leverage.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendoza.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendoza scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza decides to return to a standing position.

Mendoza closes the distance and clinches.
Mendoza landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendoza is pushing Cruz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cruz takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mendoza creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Miquel Mendoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dominick Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miquel Mendoza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendoza 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:24
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:24
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miquel Mendoza!