PBP Commentary

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

Cruz
vs
Maddoa

173 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Junior Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brad Maddoa!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maddoa clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Maddoa stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Maddoa stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Maddoa prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maddoa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maddoa defends it nicely.

Maddoa looking to score a takedown here. Cruz is defending well but Maddoa drives through and ends up in Cruz's guard.
Maddoa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Maddoa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maddoa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brad Maddoa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cruz shoots and misses

and Maddoa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Maddoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maddoa 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.
Maddoa passes Cruz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maddoa controlling the action here.
Maddoa lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maddoa is controlling the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maddoa wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Maddoa passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cruz!
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maddoa on the ground.
Cruz is squirming around, avoiding Maddoa's attempts to control the action.
Maddoa looking to finish Cruz with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cruz!

Maddoa looking to secure an arm triangle but Cruz defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maddoa controlling his opponent.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Maddoa isn't that keen on the idea.
Maddoa landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maddoa controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
It looks like Maddoa might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to escape the mount.

Maddoa jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cruz manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Maddoa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cruz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz seems a little lost for a moment, as Maddoa dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Maddoa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz misses with a takedown

and Maddoa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cruz has hold of Maddoa's hands but Maddoa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Maddoa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Maddoa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Maddoa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brad Maddoa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maddoa tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt

so Maddoa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maddoa passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maddoa passes into side control, despite Cruz's attempt to control the position.

Maddoa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maddoa has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cruz tries to lock up and control but Maddoa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Maddoa working for a guillotine from mount but Cruz is in no mood to give up.
Cruz has given up his back here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz showing good submission defense here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maddoa wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
Maddoa lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
I really don't envy Cruz right now.
Maddoa gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maddoa landing with strikes.

Cruz showing good submission defense here.
Cruz is covering up but some of the strikes from Maddoa are getting through and doing damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Maddoa.

Maddoa has got one arm under Cruz's chin. This could be trouble... Cruz trying to control the other hand but Maddoa gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Cruz has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Brad Maddoa!