PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Kingston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cruz
vs
Kingston

178 cm
23
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Kingston!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kingston quickly recovers to half guard.
Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kingston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cruz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz working over Kingston with some ground and pound. Kingston looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kingston is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz controlling the pace.
Cruz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston trying to control here.
Cruz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kingston can do anything to dispel that myth.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kingston wants to clinch.
Kingston throws a leg kick but Cruz moved away.
Kingston misses with a wild combination.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Kingston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston wants to clinch

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kingston won't be happy with that.
The referee asks Cruz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cruz prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Frank Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kingston to the ground. Cruz is now in Kingston's guard.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Kingston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kingston is keeping the position for now.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Frank Cruz has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A swing and a miss from Kingston.
Kingston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Kingston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kingston wants to clinch

and Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kingston!
Kingston tries to lock up and control but Cruz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cruz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kingston trying desperately to get to his feet.

Cruz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kingston has worked his arm free - good work by Kingston!
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 Kingston's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kingston should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz takes a little break here. Kingston wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kingston is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz is staying tight to Kingston's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kingston is trying to get back to half guard.
Frank Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kingston is breathing heavily.

Cruz decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Kingston stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kingston stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Kingston tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a single shot there.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kingston but Kingston pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Kingston misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slips a jab from Kingston.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Kingston backs away looking to recover.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Kingston, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kingston throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kingston misses with a combination

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kingston won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Kingston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kingston wants to get back to his feet.
Kingston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
You can see the frustration on Kingston's face as Cruz controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frank Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kingston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Kingston misses with a wild combination.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Cruz working away.

Cruz stands up and beckons Kingston to his feet.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Kingston.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jack Kingston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Kingston, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Kingston against the cage but Kingston circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kingston scores with a nice strike.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kingston tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Kingston looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kingston wants to clinch.
Good leg kick by Kingston there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kingston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Kingston, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

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