PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Irek Ismagilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Cruz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ismagilov
vs
Cruz

178 cm
18
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

174 cm
20
167 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irek Ismagilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ken Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ismagilov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.

Ismagilov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ismagilov controls the pace.
Ismagilov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Ismagilov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ismagilov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismagilov scoring with some ground and pound.
Ismagilov with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ismagilov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ismagilov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismagilov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ismagilov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ismagilov cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ismagilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ismagilov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ismagilov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz looks winded!
Ismagilov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Ismagilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ismagilov.
Ismagilov connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ismagilov cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Ismagilov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ismagilov postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
Ismagilov postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Ismagilov working some strikes from top position.
Ismagilov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ismagilov is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ismagilov 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.
Ismagilov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ismagilov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ismagilov throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
Ismagilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ismagilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ismagilov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ismagilov working some strikes from top position.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ismagilov controls the pace.
Ismagilov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irek Ismagilov dominated that round.
That's time! Ismagilov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ismagilov digs a good hook to Cruz's body.
Nice defenses there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a leg kick

so Ismagilov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ismagilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ismagilov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ismagilov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ismagilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismagilov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismagilov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ismagilov postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
Ismagilov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Irek Ismagilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismagilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ismagilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismagilov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ismagilov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cruz for as long as he can get away with.

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.
Ismagilov lands a couple of elbows.
Ismagilov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ismagilov postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
Ismagilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ismagilov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ismagilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ismagilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ismagilov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ismagilov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ismagilov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ismagilov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz has momentary wrist control but Ismagilov slips an elbow through the middle.

Cruz is rocked!
Ismagilov loads up on a big left hand. Cruz felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Ismagilov looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Cruz can't hide his disappointment, as Ismagilov celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Irek Ismagilov!
A very excited looking Irek Ismagilov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.