PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dimitri Payet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Payet
vs
Cruz

179 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dimitri Payet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payet darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Payet tries to score a body lock takedown but Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.

Payet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payet shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Payet shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Payet defends it nicely.
Dimitri Payet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Cruz.
Payet avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Payet tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cruz manages to circle out of the way.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Payet's shoulder, as Payet tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payet tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Payet somewhat.
Payet is breathing heavily.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Payet but Payet pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Payet swivels and escapes.
Payet definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Payet has managed to clinch.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payet pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Payet manages to get underhooks.
Payet can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Payet keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Payet looking for a sweep. Not yet Payet, not yet.
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working Payet over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Payet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Payet throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Payet avoids it really well and circles away.
Payet swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.

Payet has one foot on Cruz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Payet saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Payet manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Payet circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payet is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Payet 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 throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Payet's waist but Payet gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Payet pinned against the cage. Payet gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cruz with a poor takedown

and Payet counters by moving into the clinch.
Dimitri Payet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Cruz.
Payet has Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payet pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Payet gets underhooks to prevent Cruz's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payet wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz is working for takedown but Payet is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Payet pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payet shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Payet's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Payet throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Payet.
Payet swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Payet counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz fails with the takedown

and Payet counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Payet.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Payet pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payet has had enough of the clinch but Cruz keeps him there for the moment.
Payet goes for a takedown attempt but Cruz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Payet is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Payet's guard.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.

Payet looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.

Payet had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Payet keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payet stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Payet wants it to stay on the feet.
Payet fails to land the takedown.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Payet stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.

Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Payet on his heels. He'll look to pass Payet's guard now, I'm sure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz trying to control but Payet is working from the bottom.
Cruz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Payet dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Payet misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Payet looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payet is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payet keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Payet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

Cruz forces Payet back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payet is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Payet down to the mat. Payet avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Payet tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Payet manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Payet is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cruz.
Dimitri Payet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Cruz.
Payet will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Payet sets himself, and Cruz steps forward looking for the clinch! Payet avoids it this time.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Payet gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Payet manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Payet shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Payet manages to get underhooks.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Payet after a bit of a struggle.

Payet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Payet moves into the clinch.
Payet is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Payet manages to get underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Payet pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Payet is keeping the position for now.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Payet is trying to improve his position.
Cruz cracks Payet with a big right hand but Payet just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cruz working the ground and pound from side control.
Justin Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dimitri Payet is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Cruz.
I think Payet has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimitri Payet!