PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Moore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maciej Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Moore
vs
Cruz

174 cm
23
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Moore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maciej Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moore misses with a hook

and Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Moore!
Moore could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Moore is desperately trying to improve his position but Cruz has a good base and remains in mount.
Cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Moore is looking to get to half guard.
Cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruz dominating with strikes here.
Cruz throwing strikes but Moore recovers to half guard. A much better position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Moore's head.
Moore avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Moore manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moore wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Moore keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Moore is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Moore pushes his legs off easily.
Moore throws a strike but Cruz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Moore working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz passes Moore's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Moore defends the submission attempt.
Moore is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz is thwarting Moore's attempts to control the position.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Moore is positioning himself well to prevent Cruz advancing to mount.
Moore is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moore works his way to full guard. Good work.
Moore has Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.

Moore working for submissions but it's allowed Cruz to get to half guard.

Moore is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Moore moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Moore wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.

Moore has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.

Moore working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cruz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Moore gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Moore avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz looks gassed!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moore trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
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 Josh Moore will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Moore fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz misses with a takedown

so Moore counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cruz controls Moore momentarily but Moore frees himself.
Moore passes Cruz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Moore wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz tries to roll over but Moore keeps him under control.

Moore is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz taking some punishment here, with Moore in his half guard.
Moore landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cruz has hold of Moore's hands but Moore slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Moore is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Moore working Cruz over with strikes.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Moore has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Moore seems content to control.
Moore lands with a punch from half guard.
Moore is looking to pass Cruz's guard but actually Cruz recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moore stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Moore keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Moore postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Moore working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Moore landing with the ground and pound.
Moore is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Moore advances position into side control!
Moore trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moore in side control lands a decent elbow.

Moore working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moore lands a nice forearm strike.
Moore cracks Cruz with a big right hand but Cruz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Check out the look on Moore's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Moore is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cruz is not content to let Moore control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore cracks Cruz with a big right hand but Cruz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Moore has hold of Cruz's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Cruz seems comfortable defending it but Moore has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Cruz is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Cruz is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Moore couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Josh Moore!