PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cleo Page (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Page
vs
Cruz

174 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cleo Page!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kyle Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz pushes Page up against the cage in a clinch.
Page wants a takedown but no success here.
Page tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
Page displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cruz up against the cage.

Page manages to pull guard.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Page throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Page is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Page wants to control the position but Cruz says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
It looks like Cruz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Cruz tries to stand but can't do so whilst Page controls his leg.
Cruz controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Cruz forces Page back against the cage and clinches.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Cruz trying to stall but Page improves his position.
Cruz is looking to control Page's arms but Page gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cruz has his back to the cage.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Page holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Page.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleo Page. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Page is struggling to control the position.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Page's takedown attempt.
Page tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Page is controlling the position.
Page dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Page walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kyle Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz gets a clinch.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Page has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Page forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Page gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Page has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Page tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz fails to pull guard.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Page stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz tries to break free but Page pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Page has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cruz into the cage.
Cruz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Page.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Page is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cleo Page has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Cruz.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Page smiles and moves away.

Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Page sprawls well initially but Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but Page defending well.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Page doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Cruz is nestled in close to Page, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Page uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Cruz tries to stand but Page is controlling from the bottom.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Page is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Page is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

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.
Cruz tries to get to his feet but Page is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Cruz in his guard.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Page swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz stands up over Page, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Page's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Cruz shoots in and bounces Page off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Page keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Page. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Page has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Page trying to control but Cruz is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Page cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cruz tries to lock up and control but Page gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Page can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cruz is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Page is having none of it.
Cruz can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Page trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruz trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cruz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Cruz is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Page gets his way!
Cruz tries to break free.
Cleo Page has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyle Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kyle Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Page avoiding Cruz 's attempts to control his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleo Page showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

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