PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Kruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Hay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruiz kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is ZARILA KANDZE. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kruiz
vs
Hay

185 cm
32
193 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
191 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Kruiz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Hay!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruiz fails with a takedown attempt.
Hay takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hay looks to clinch

so Kruiz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruiz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hay utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kruiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kruiz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruiz drops back looking for a leg! Hay is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hay manages to kick Kruiz off! Kruiz jumps back into Hay's guard.

Kruiz drops back looking for a leg! Hay is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hay manages to kick Kruiz off! Kruiz jumps back into Hay's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Kruiz's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kruiz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hay trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hay can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kruiz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kruiz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kruiz is looking to stand up but Hay won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hay is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kruiz is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hay looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kruiz stays in close to Hay's body and controls the position.
Hay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kruiz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kruiz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kruiz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kruiz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kruiz slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hay is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kruiz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hay defends it well.

Kruiz is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Hay is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tom Kruiz!
Tom Kruiz retains his middleweight title!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Tom Kruiz waved his t-shirt featuring Mohito Fightwear (Laundry)'s logo in front of the cameras.