PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raiden Asuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen CALIFORNIA LOVE by Tupac ft. Dr. Dre as his entrance music. Raiden Asuka had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Asuka
vs
Cruz

170 cm
21
163 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
166 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

VIRAL COMBAT

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raiden Asuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz clobbers Asuka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Asuka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Asuka is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz trying to control here.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Asuka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Asuka eventually gives up the hold.

Asuka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Asuka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Asuka controlling the pace.
Asuka is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.
Asuka trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raiden Asuka just wasn't active enough.
Asuka moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.

Asuka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Asuka tries to move to mount but Cruz blocks the move with his legs.

Asuka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cruz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Asuka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Asuka control the position.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Asuka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cruz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Asuka wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz is not content to let Asuka control the position.
Asuka trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.

Asuka is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Asuka trying to pass the guard but Cruz defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Asuka has control of the leg.

Asuka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Asuka seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

Asuka is working for a kimura but Cruz is defending it quite comfortably.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Asuka is working away from the top position though.
Asuka is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Asuka trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asuka is looking for a kimura here.
Asuka trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Asuka has control of the leg.

Asuka is working for a kimura but Cruz is defending it quite comfortably.
Cruz is not content to let Asuka control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz trying to get back to full guard but Asuka takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raiden Asuka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Asuka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Asuka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Asuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Asuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Asuka works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Asuka is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz tries to roll over but Asuka keeps him under control.
Asuka trying to pass the guard but Cruz defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Asuka control the position.
Asuka is pressing down on Cruz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruz is holding on for now.
Cruz trying to control but Asuka postures up.
Asuka is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Asuka is controlling well.
Asuka throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Asuka is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Cruz won't allow Asuka to pass to mount.
Asuka is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Asuka pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Asuka 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 Asuka.
Asuka has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Asuka has a good base and remains in mount.

Asuka is working for a guillotine from mount but Cruz frees his head quite easily.

Asuka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Asuka controlling from mount.
Cruz is squirming around, avoiding Asuka's attempts to control the action.
Raiden Asuka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asuka controlling from the full mount.
Asuka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cruz is squirming around, avoiding Asuka's attempts to control the action.
Cruz regains half guard.
Asuka is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Asuka trying to pass the guard but Cruz defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raiden Asuka dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Asuka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Asuka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Asuka wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz is letting Asuka control him for a moment.

Asuka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Asuka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Asuka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cruz is not content to let Asuka control the position.
Cruz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Asuka seems to be looking for submissions.

Asuka seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz is still trying to improve position.

Asuka is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Asuka to get the leverage.
Cruz trying to control here.

Asuka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Asuka eventually gives up the hold.
Gabriel Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuka is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Asuka is just content to waste time from the top position. Cruz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Asuka is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Asuka from controlling successfully.
Cruz is trying to keep Asuka in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz working for a triangle but Asuka defends it easily.
Cruz can't keep his opponent in guard - Asuka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Asuka stalling away here and it's allowed Cruz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Asuka passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Asuka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Asuka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Raiden Asuka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asuka tries for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz is trying to escape the position but Asuka is controlling the position.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Asuka slows the pace down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Asuka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cruz being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raiden Asuka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Asuka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raiden Asuka!