PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Widaca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Cruz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Widaca's chin.

Cruz
vs
Widaca

178 cm
25
154 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, John Widaca!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz dips to his left and cracks Widaca with an uppercut!
Cruz connects with a crisp jab.
Widaca swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Widaca wants to clinch.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Widaca.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Widaca tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Widaca lands a jab.
Widaca ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Widaca throws a right hand that misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Widaca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Widaca keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Widaca can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz won't allow Widaca to sweep him here.
Widaca keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frank Cruz just wasn't active enough.

Cruz feints and as Widaca raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Widaca tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Widaca is trying to buck Cruz off.

Cruz swings around for an armbar but Widaca sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cruz's guard.
Widaca tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

Cruz has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Widaca off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Widaca backs away looking to recover.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cruz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Widaca is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Widaca does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cruz not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Widaca enables Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Widaca manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Widaca lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cruz!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Widaca controlling the position easily from mount.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Widaca wants to control the pace but Cruz is squirming around nicely.

Cruz somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
A jab from Cruz finds it's way through Widaca's defenses.
John Widaca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Widaca fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Widaca avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Widaca avoids them all with ease.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Widaca scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Widaca lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good exchange - Cruz coming out on top.
Widaca misses with a wild combination.
Cruz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz lands with a nice combination. Widaca backs away looking to recover.
Widaca fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Widaca stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Widaca missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!

Widaca is rocked!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Widaca shows good takedown defense.
Widaca is still on wobbly legs! Can Cruz finish him?
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Widaca as he avoids it easily.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Widaca.
Widaca swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Widaca throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Widaca looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Widaca throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz drops Widaca with a big left hand! Widaca is injured, injured bad! Cruz jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frank Cruz!