PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Bordin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick 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.

Bordin
vs
Cruz

175 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Bordin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Bordin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bordin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free but Bordin has control.

Bordin has clasped his hands together around Cruz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Bordin wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his arm.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.

Bordin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bordin working the body and head with strikes.
Cruz struggling a bit here.
Cruz is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bordin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bordin is staying tight to Cruz's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
Cruz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bordin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cruz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bordin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.

Bordin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bordin works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Cruz wants to control but Bordin postures up.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Bordin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bordin prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Bordin cracks Cruz with a big elbow.

Bordin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bordin advances to mount.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Bordin has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bordin landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bordin dominating with strikes here.
Cruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bordin trying to control but Cruz is having none of it.
Bordin is breathing heavily.
Cruz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Bordin keeps moving.
Bordin wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bordin working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz is pushing down on Bordin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bordin is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cruz cracks Bordin with a big elbow.
Cruz working the ground and pound from side control.
Bordin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cruz wants to stand but Bordin has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Bordin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bordin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bordin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Bordin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dominick Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Bordin postures up.
Bordin stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bordin throws a big right hand that misses.
Bordin trying to move into half guard but instead Cruz has managed to sweep!

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bordin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bordin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Bordin keeps moving.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bordin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bordin throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cruz escapes and throws Bordin's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Check out the look on Cruz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cruz trying to control the action but Bordin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bordin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz lands with a nice combination. Bordin backs away looking to recover.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bordin to the mat! Bordin manages to get full guard.

Bordin has an active guard here but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Cruz is just content to waste time from the top position. Bordin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bordin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to pass into half guard but Bordin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bordin is in guard.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.

Cruz working for submissions but it's allowed Bordin to get to half guard.
Bordin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bordin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Cruz is looking to control Bordin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?

Bordin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bordin prevents Cruz from improving his position.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bordin pulls his head out easily.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bordin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Bordin controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bordin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cruz tries to bench press Bordin off him but Bordin keeps the position.
Bordin working the ground and pound.
Bordin is staying tight to Cruz's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Bordin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pushes Bordin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bordin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bordin lands a decent elbow from side control.

Bordin decides to stand back up.
Cruz tries to land a front kick but Bordin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bordin is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bordin keeping hold of Cruz's head, controlling as best he can.
Cruz is thwarting Bordin's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominick Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Cruz!