PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan McMillan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
McMillan

173 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dante Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan McMillan!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz gets a double leg takedown into McMillan's guard.

McMillan wriggles free and stands up.
Nathan McMillan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz avoids the body shot from McMillan.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with McMillan, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes McMillan against the cage but McMillan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McMillan shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with McMillan, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes McMillan against the cage but McMillan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from McMillan.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
McMillan misses with a few strikes there.
McMillan looks gassed!

Cruz feints and as McMillan raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McMillan on the ground.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but McMillan is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but McMillan keeps moving.
McMillan wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
McMillan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dante Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McMillan gets caught flat footed, as Cruz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but McMillan keeps moving.
McMillan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cruz cracks McMillan with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McMillan has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cruz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A combination from McMillan does no damage.
McMillan throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
McMillan throws a combination that misses

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz taking a break here but McMillan is having none of it and regains half guard.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
Cruz moves nicely into side control.
Cruz controlling the position.
Cruz landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMillan taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
McMillan is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cruz tries to move to full mount but McMillan actually manages to regain half guard.
Cruz tries to pass to full mount but McMillan defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

McMillan kicks off Cruz and gets to his feet.
McMillan misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
McMillan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
McMillan looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
McMillan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McMillan is trying to defend but Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but McMillan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cruz winds up and cracks McMillan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

McMillan pushes Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
McMillan swinging wildly here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

McMillan tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but McMillan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Cruz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McMillan is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cruz cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cruz lands a heavy elbow.
Cruz scoring with strikes but McMillan is staying in there.
Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Cruz wants to control but instead McMillan manages to regain half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz wants to take a breather but McMillan is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McMillan pushes Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
McMillan misses with a two punch combination.
McMillan is breathing heavily.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McMillan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. McMillan didn't expect that.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McMillan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McMillan wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McMillan wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but McMillan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McMillan's head.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but McMillan is retaining full guard.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McMillan keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cruz stops McMillan from standing up.
Cruz is looking to stand up but McMillan won't let him.
McMillan wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz works over McMillan with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMillan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Cruz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McMillan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McMillan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

McMillan pushes Cruz off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McMillan swings for the body but Cruz moves out of range.

McMillan gets caught napping as Cruz dives in and scores a takedown. McMillan manages to retain guard.
Cruz stops McMillan from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMillan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz trying to control but McMillan is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz is working McMillan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. McMillan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by McMillan!
Cruz is trying to control the position but McMillan postures up.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McMillan is controlling him.

McMillan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McMillan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.

McMillan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz trying to control but McMillan is working from the bottom.
McMillan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

McMillan uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Cruz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McMillan!
Cruz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McMillan is looking to escape.
McMillan is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The referee warns McMillan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cruz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

McMillan is rocked!
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 landing shots from mount.
McMillan is still in real trouble! Can Cruz finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz drops a big elbow. That's hurt McMillan! More shots from Cruz and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dante Cruz!