PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akira Toushikama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toushikama comes to the cage accompanied by One Love-Yoshihiro Akiyama. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toushikama
vs
Cruz

179 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

181 cm
26
189 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

GREEN!160
Four Aces Nutrition

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akira Toushikama !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luis Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toushikama goes for a double leg but Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cruz continues to drive forward.
Cruz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Toushikama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Toushikama . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toushikama darts in looking for a takedown but Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Toushikama into the cage.
Toushikama shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Toushikama 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Toushikama defends it well.

Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Toushikama works his way to full guard. Good work.
Toushikama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz trying to control but Toushikama is working from the bottom.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Toushikama trying to strike off his back.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Toushikama is keeping the position for now.
Cruz cracks Toushikama with a solid left hand.
Toushikama wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Toushikama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Toushikama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cruz to the ground. Toushikama is now in Cruz's guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Toushikama from controlling successfully.
Toushikama is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Toushikama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Toushikama throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Toushikama 's guard. Nice move by Cruz!

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Toushikama looking for a sweep. Not yet Toushikama , not yet.
Cruz trying to control but Toushikama is working from the bottom.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Toushikama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cruz is working Toushikama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Toushikama throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Toushikama has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Toushikama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama seems keen to control Cruz's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz won't allow Toushikama to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Toushikama shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Toushikama shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Toushikama fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Toushikama . Toushikama gets slowly back to his feet.

Toushikama gets a double leg takedown into Cruz's guard.
Toushikama has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Toushikama is breathing heavily.
Toushikama is looking to pass into half guard but Cruz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cruz is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Toushikama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz is fighting to break Toushikama 's control of his arms but Toushikama is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Toushikama wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz won't allow Toushikama to sweep him here.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Toushikama 's head.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Toushikama .
Cruz trying to control but Toushikama is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Toushikama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Toushikama persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Toushikama fails with the takedown.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Toushikama , before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Toushikama . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Toushikama has a takedown stuffed.
Toushikama shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Toushikama shoots and misses
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Toushikama keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz scores with a one two! Toushikama had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toushikama .

Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Toushikama 's guard.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Toushikama working a defensive guard here.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toushikama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Toushikama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Toushikama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Toushikama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Toushikama throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Toushikama off to one side.
Cruz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Toushikama swivels and escapes.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Toushikama but Toushikama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Toushikama misses with a takedown attempt - Cruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Toushikama with a poor takedown

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Toushikama !

Cruz is working to tighten his grip on Toushikama 's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Toushikama has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Cruz is really squeezing tight and eventually Toushikama passes out! Cruz breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Luis Cruz!
An out of breath Luis Cruz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.