PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between William Blais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blais
vs
Cruz

170 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, William Blais!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blais throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blais takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cruz is staying tight to Blais's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cruz wants to control but Blais is keeping him busy.
Blais is trying to buck Cruz off.
Cruz grinds an elbow into Blais's temple.
Blais is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Blais is letting Cruz control him for a moment.
Cruz lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blais is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cruz asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blais. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the action but Blais is working from the bottom.

Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Blais is defending well.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Blais is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blais is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cruz asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Blais is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz prevents Blais from escaping the position.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Blais is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A lull in the action here as Cruz stalls from top position.
Blais is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Cruz is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Blais's shoulder. That is not cool.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Blais throws an off balance right hand

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blais's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blais can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz cracks Blais with a solid left hand.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cruz trying to control but Blais is working from the bottom.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz cracks Blais with a solid left hand.
Blais keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blais is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blais is keeping the position for now.
Blais is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is standing up over Blais. Blais looks to escape but Cruz dives into side control.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Blais is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blais tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Cruz controlling the position from side mount.
Blais is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz wants to control but Blais is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blais is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blais keeps working.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blais misses with a looping left.
Blais fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blais.
Blais throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blais throws a combination that misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Blais wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Frank Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Blais is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz stays in close to Blais's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stops Blais from standing up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Blais did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.
Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Blais is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Blais throws a combination that misses

so Cruz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blais wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blais swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blais wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cruz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blais wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz advances nicely into full mount.
Cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Blais wants to get back to his feet.

Cruz is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Blais to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Blais shrugs it off.
Cruz controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blais manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blais keeps working.
Blais seems a little lost for a moment, as Cruz dominates the positioning.
Blais is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cruz is controlling him well.
Blais is looking to get back to his feet here but Cruz is keeping cool and he's managed to take Blais's back.
Blais looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Blais wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.

Blais gets caught flat footed, as Cruz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cruz pushing down on Blais's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
Cruz trying to control the pace.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Blais is working away.
Blais pushes Cruz off looking to stand but Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Blais is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is keen to just control but Blais is a slippery customer.
Blais is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Blais misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Blais is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Blais misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Blais will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cruz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Blais pushes Cruz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cruz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
William Blais has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slows the pace down.
Blais is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cruz controlling from side mount.
Blais is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cruz connects with a decent elbow.
Blais is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blais keeps working.
Blais gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz raining down hammerfists from mount.
Blais wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Blais?
Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Cruz lands a big elbow.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz wants to control the pace but Blais is squirming around nicely.
Blais is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cruz lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz controlling from the full mount.
Cruz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Blais can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Blais throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Cruz controlling from mount.
Cruz tries to control but Blais wriggling away.
Cruz blocks Blais's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You get the feeling that Blais really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Frank Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Cruz is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Blais to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Blais shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

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