PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Adam Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Adam Edgar has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Edgar
vs
Cruz

190 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

150 cm
21
130 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edgar shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Edgar 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.

Edgar manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.
Edgar wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Edgar is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.

Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Edgar to get to his feet.
Edgar shoots and misses

and Cruz counters by clinching up.
Cruz pushes off an throws an elbow but Edgar leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Edgar lands with a short shot to the head.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Edgar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Edgar is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Edgar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.

Cruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Edgar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cruz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Edgar stacks Cruz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Edgar!
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Edgar keeps moving and retains side control.
Cruz is trying to buck Edgar off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edgar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
Edgar trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Edgar lands a nice forearm strike.
Cruz tries to escape but Edgar is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cruz wants to control but Edgar postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edgar trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Cruz tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Cruz can't escape the position.
BOOM! Edgar connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Edgar wants to control the pace but Cruz is squirming around nicely.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Edgar has a good base and remains in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Edgar throws a head kick that half lands.
Edgar wants to clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Edgar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Edgar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edgar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Edgar somewhat.
Edgar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgar is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.

Edgar jumps guard.
Cruz trying to control but Edgar is working from the bottom.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Adam Edgar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Edgar keeps moving.
Edgar really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Edgar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cruz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Edgar tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Edgar is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Edgar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Edgar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz tries to clinch but Edgar moves out of range.

Cruz darts in and clinches Edgar up against the cage.
Cruz wants to break free but Edgar has control.
Edgar managing to block the knees to the body from Cruz.
Cruz wants a takedown.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Edgar.
Edgar can't break the clinch.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to push Edgar away but Edgar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Edgar avoids it.
Cruz is trying to stall.
Cruz can't break the clinch.

Edgar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edgar stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Edgar wants it to stay on the feet.
Edgar darts in looking for a takedown but Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Edgar into the cage.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Edgar napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Edgar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Edgar regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgar 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.

Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Edgar.

Cruz clinches up with Edgar and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edgar trying to stall but Cruz improves his position.
Edgar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Edgar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Edgar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Edgar shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Edgar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz keeps control of Edgar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Edgar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Adam Edgar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edgar throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Edgar defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Edgar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Edgar trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Edgar knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edgar keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cruz trying to control but Edgar is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Edgar's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cruz 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.
Cruz with shots to the head and body - Edgar looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cruz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Edgar is looking to escape.

Cruz is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Edgar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Edgar somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Edgar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but Edgar is having none of it.
Edgar shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Edgar tries to kick Cruz off but Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cruz decides to return to a standing position.
A head kick misses from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Edgar enables Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Edgar manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Edgar keeps moving.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Edgar gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.
Edgar presses Cruz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cruz is looking to control Edgar's arms but Edgar gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cruz has his back to the cage.

Edgar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edgar shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Edgar slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominick Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Cruz!
In defeat, Adam Edgar stepped up to the mic, saying 'Aye you know what? It's alright, this loss will help me achieve higher levels of success in my careers future.'.