PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz's entrance music is DJ Khaled - All I do is win. A fine choice. Ishikawa has chosen mindshift genki sudo as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cruz
vs
Ishikawa

173 cm
21
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

150 cm
23
147 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dominick Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Ishikawa!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Ishikawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed

and Ishikawa counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
Ishikawa controlling from the top position.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ishikawa is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishikawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz pulls Ishikawa in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akira Ishikawa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Ishikawa clinches.
Ishikawa leaning against his opponent.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Ishikawa taking a breather.
Cruz throws a head punch that misses.
Ishikawa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominick Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz can't break the clinch.

Ishikawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ishikawa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cruz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ishikawa has passed into half guard!
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ishikawa throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Ishikawa is controlling well.
Ishikawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz is not content to let Ishikawa control the position.

Ishikawa wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ishikawa has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Cruz defend it? Ishikawa steps over the head and cranks it - Cruz is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Ishikawa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Akira Ishikawa!