PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Dawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Humberto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dawkins comes to the cage accompanied by Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck . Cruz has chosen Deja Vu as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Dawkins
vs
Cruz

170 cm
28
159 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

170 cm
29
165 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry
Conviction

160!
Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Dawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cruz looks for the body kick but Dawkins saw that one coming.
Dawkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Dawkins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Dawkins sprawls well.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Dawkins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dawkins lands in his opponent's guard.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawkins postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Dawkins wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz pulls Dawkins in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins with a nice head shot there.
Dawkins postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dawkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dawkins pushing down on Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Dawkins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dawkins advances position into side control!
Cruz parries the strikes from Dawkins easily there. Dawkins is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cruz to escape.
Dawkins working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dawkins 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.
Dawkins working the head with strikes.

Dawkins looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dawkins.
Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cruz gets full guard.
Dawkins passes into half guard.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Dawkins moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dawkins is putting a hurting on Cruz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Dawkins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Dawkins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Dawkins scoring with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Dawkins.
Dawkins creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cruz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dawkins.
Dawkins working the ground and pound from side control.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Dawkins dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dawkins throws a front kick that sends Cruz stumbling back into the cage.
Cruz tries a low kick but Dawkins avoids it.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
Cruz takes a swing at Dawkins's ribcage but misses.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Dawkins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dawkins throws a wild body kick that Cruz sees coming a mile off.
Dawkins misses with a leg kick.
Dawkins shoots in but no luck this time.
Dawkins missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dawkins catches Cruz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dawkins scores with a shot to the body.
Dawkins throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz scores with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawkins throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cruz counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dawkins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Dawkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Dawkins.
Cruz throws a chopping leg kick but Dawkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dawkins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins wants to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruz wants to control but Dawkins is keeping him busy.
Dawkins regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dawkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Dawkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Dawkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Dawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dawkins landing strikes from the mount.
Dawkins lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cruz hang on?
Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cruz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dawkins is aware though and is defending well.
Dawkins postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawkins passes Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dawkins lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz gets full guard.
Dawkins passes into half guard.
Dawkins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Richard Dawkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dawkins lands with a punch from half guard.

Dawkins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dawkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Dawkins dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dawkins thows a body shot but no joy.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dawkins.
Cruz misses with a straight left.
Richard Dawkins is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz works Dawkins's body with a nice hook.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Dawkins goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz misses with a body kick.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Dawkins.
Dawkins digs a good hook to Cruz's body.
Dawkins is looking to wear down Cruz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Dawkins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cruz's hands.
Dawkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dawkins looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Dawkins counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dawkins counters with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Dawkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dawkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Dawkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Dawkins.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dawkins manages to avoid it.
Humberto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.

Dawkins tries to sprawl but Cruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Dawkins won't allow it.
Dawkins tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.
Cruz working over Dawkins with some ground and pound. Dawkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cruz is pressing down on Dawkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dawkins is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dawkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dawkins regains full guard. Nicely done.

Dawkins has an active guard here but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but Dawkins defending well.
Dawkins wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins wants to control the action here but instead Cruz manages to pass to full mount!
Dawkins working to try and regain half guard.
Dawkins tries to lock up and control but Cruz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dawkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawkins wants to hold on but Cruz pushes him away.
Dawkins is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Humberto Cruz.
Well Dawkins has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Dawkins!
Richard Dawkins took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'This was my final fight at 155 pounds. Theres a grand prix thats supposed to crown the greatest 145 pound fighter in the world - well Im right here. You want this crown, come get it'.