PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Thompson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Thompson

220 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Cruz!
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, Chris Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thompson showed some decent athleticism there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cruz gets full guard.
Cruz pulls Thompson in close to his closed guard and prevents Thompson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cruz pulls Thompson in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cruz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thompson.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cruz enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cruz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Cruz is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Thompson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cruz being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to circle away but Thompson has him pinned against the cage.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thompson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thompson showed some decent athleticism there.
Cruz is controlling Thompson's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Cruz moves into full guard.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz controlling Thompson's posture.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Thompson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.
Thompson working the ground and pound from side control.

Thompson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cruz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thompson tries to advance to mount but Cruz denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson tries to stand but Cruz is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Chris Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson tries to advance to mount but Cruz instead regains half guard.
Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thompson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thompson's back!
What can Thompson do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to get back to his feet but Cruz has full control of the position and if anything, Thompson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cruz not allowing Thompson to control his hands.
Cruz tries to keep control of the position but Thompson is staying busy.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Cruz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Thompson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Cruz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Cruz is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Cruz gets his hands free as Thompson looks to control.
Cruz lands shots from the back.
Cruz lands shots from the back.
Cruz lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Cruz.
Cruz is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Cruz throwing damaging strikes from the back! Thompson could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz connects with a big shot to the side of Thompson's head.

Cruz looking for the choke from the back.
I would not like to be Thompson right now.
Cruz lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thompson can do to turn this around?
Thompson tries to break free.
Cruz scores with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cruz 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!

Thompson misses with a body kick.
Thompson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thompson's guard.
Thompson is wriggling around but Cruz manages to pass to half guard.
Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.
Thompson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Thompson is defending well.
Cruz is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Thompson is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Thompson has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thompson trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Thompson wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.
Thompson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thompson looks to clinch
and Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
Thompson looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Thompson's brow.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.

Thompson looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cruz 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

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