PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Jones
vs
Cruz

185 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Jon Jones !
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, Pedro Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz blocks a head kick by Jones .
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Jones , looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jones counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cruz!
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cruz is squirming around, avoiding Jones 's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones wants to control but instead Cruz manages to regain half guard.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has Jones pulled in close to control his posture.
Jones tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Jones passes into half guard.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones . 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 looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz wants to stand back up but Jones manages to pass into side control.
Cruz tries to bench press Jones off him but Jones keeps the position.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones blocks the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Cruz trying to hold on to Jones 's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Cruz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cruz manages to get to full guard.

Cruz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Jones stacks Cruz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Jones !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cruz wants to control but Jones postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jones decides to stand back up.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jon Jones will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Jones shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jones throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jones defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
Jones moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones . Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jones tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jones to the ground. Jones escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Cruz.
Jones avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cruz gets control of Jones 's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.
Jones trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz managing to control the position.
Jon Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jones advances to half guard.
Jones is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Cruz desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jones tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jones to the ground. Jones escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jones tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz clinches up against the cage.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz is trying to drag Jones to the mat but Jones just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jones tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cruz has managed to clinch.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jones 's efforts to push away.
Cruz missing with knees to the body.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Jones coming out on top.
Cruz tries to score with a low kick but Jones moves his leg out of the way.
Jones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Cruz.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jones jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz wants to break free but Jones has control.

Cruz drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Jones is now in half guard.
Cruz trying to control but Jones postures up.
Ground and pound from Jones .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Jones is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones moves nicely into side control.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Jones creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cruz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cruz struggling a bit here.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control here.
Jones regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cruz.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz wants to stand but Jones is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pedro Cruz.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!