PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezequiel Cruz (ranked 25039 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Nielson (ranked 6268 p4p, 588 weight class). Nielson has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Joel Nielson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Nielson

180 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ezequiel 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, Joel Nielson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Nielson misses
and Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.

Cruz gets caught flat footed, as Nielson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nielson is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nielson defends well.
Nielson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Nielson passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielson scoring with strikes to the body and head.

It looks like Ezequiel Cruz has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nielson scores with a couple of nice shots.

Nielson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cruz to stand up.

Nielson clinches with his opponent.

Cruz gets control of Nielson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nielson wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Nielson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz really is a fat lump.
Nielson is stalling in the full guard.
Nielson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joel Nielson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nielson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nielson is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is staying active underneath Nielson, who seems content to just control the action from this 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.
Nielson slips a nice elbow through Cruz's hands, connecting with Cruz's forehead.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nielson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nielson not doing much here.
Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nielson content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Nielson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ezequiel Cruz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nielson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cruz gets a clinch.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Nielson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezequiel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nielson forces Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
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 Nielson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nielson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nielson manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nielson clinches up against the cage.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nielson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Ezequiel Cruz's cut is getting worse.
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 Nielson walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nielson rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nielson breaks from the clinch.

Nielson has closed the distance and engaged Cruz in a clinch.

Nielson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nielson manages to end up in side control.
Cruz bucks up and tries to throw Nielson off but instead Nielson has got his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nielson looking for the choke from the back.
Nielson scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Cruz is looking for a way out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nielson scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Cruz is rocked!

Jeez, Ezequiel Cruz's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ezequiel Cruz's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Joel Nielson!