PBP Commentary

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

Cruz
vs
Nordquist

172 cm
23
144 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
148 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Nordquist!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ron Honeybunn and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz shoots in and bounces Nordquist off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Nordquist is retaining full guard.
Cruz trying to control but Nordquist is working from the bottom.
Cruz won't allow Nordquist to sweep him here.
Nordquist has Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Cruz won't allow Nordquist to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Nordquist is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Nordquist throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
Nordquist tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nordquist has control of Cruz's left arm, preventing Cruz from doing any damage.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nordquist swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz cracks Nordquist with a solid left hand.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cruz working the body and head with strikes.
Nordquist is looking to reverse the position.
Nordquist is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.
Nordquist trying to remain calm as Cruz controls from the top position.
Nordquist manages to get back to half guard.
Cruz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cruz looking to finish Nordquist with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nordquist!

Nordquist is rocked!

It looks like John Nordquist has been cut.

Cruz swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nordquist is now in Cruz's guard. A big mistake from Cruz there, giving up the dominant position!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nordquist accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nordquist cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Nordquist advances position into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
Nordquist has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at ~KT-MMA~. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Cruz is trying to control Nordquist's posture but Nordquist avoids it.
Nordquist tries to score with some ground and pound. Cruz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cruz tries to bench press Nordquist off him but Nordquist keeps the position.
Nordquist working away.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Cruz stops Nordquist from passing to mount.
Cruz tries to buck Nordquist off but Nordquist is having none of it.
Nordquist tries to advance to mount but Cruz denies him.
Cruz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nordquist's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cruz is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nordquist lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nordquist has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz trying to hold on to Nordquist's head to control him but Nordquist postures up.
Cruz has his hands clasped together around Nordquist's back. He's all about the action.
Nordquist working Cruz over with strikes.
Nordquist sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cruz defending well though.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nordquist is one step ahead there.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nordquist defends it easily.
Nordquist keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nordquist working some strikes from top position.
Nordquist lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Cruz is rocked!
Nordquist preventing the sweep.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nordquist from controlling successfully.
Cruz controlling Nordquist's posture.
Nordquist scoring with some ground and pound.
Cruz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dom Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Nordquist's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nordquist looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nordquist lands a nice shot to the body.
Nordquist shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nordquist's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nordquist has a takedown stuffed.
Dom Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Nordquist.
Cruz throws a right hand that Nordquist ducks under and follows up with a left that Nordquist also avoids with ease.
Nordquist let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Nordquist cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruz cracks Nordquist with a good jab.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz throws a low kick but Nordquist moves out of range easily.
Nordquist now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nordquist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Nordquist throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cruz on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nordquist shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Nordquist is just out of range.
Nordquist fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Good exchange - Cruz coming out on top.
Cruz throws a leg kick but Nordquist sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nordquist.
Cruz jabs at Nordquist's body.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nordquist changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nordquist cracks Cruz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
and Nordquist connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nordquist scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cruz in his tracks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Nordquist is just out of range.
Nordquist with the counter takedown but Cruz avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nordquist throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Nice shot by Cruz.
Nordquist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nordquist moves out of range as Cruz throws a body kick.
Nordquist takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nordquist, pushing him back against the cage.
Nordquist tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nordquist tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Nordquist has the dominant position.
Nordquist keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cruz misses with a body punch.

Nordquist has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cruz is trying to keep an underhook but Nordquist manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nordquist sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cruz defending well though.

Nordquist is working for a kimura but Cruz is defending it quite comfortably.
Cruz has hold of Nordquist's hands but Nordquist slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nordquist prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Cruz is looking to control Nordquist's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Nordquist passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cruz!
John Nordquist has got the better of the ground game so far.
BOOM! Nordquist connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nordquist landing shots from mount.
Nordquist avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to escape the mount.
Nordquist avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Nordquist looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nordquist loads up with a big shot that hurts Cruz! He's pulled Nordquist in close but Nordquist has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Cruz survive? More strikes from Nordquist and Cruz is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). John Nordquist!
After winning the bout, John Nordquist thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.