PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Justin Cider (ranked 2907 p4p, 320 weight class) and Dominick Bruise (ranked 2974 p4p, 332 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cider
vs
Bruise

172 cm
38
160 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

173 cm
27
142 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Trashy Bar

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Cider !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Bruise!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Cider tenderised Bruise's leg. Bruise is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bruise bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cider defending well as Bruise loads up on a big left hand.
Bruise is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cider sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cider lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cider throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bruise sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A low kick from Cider is predictable there
and Bruise counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cider throws a body punch but Bruise moves out of range.
Bruise appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Cider throws a leg kick which misses Bruise's front leg but catches the back leg as Bruise tries to avoid it.
Bruise moves out of range of the body kick.
Cider throws a lazy right hand but Bruise sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bruise looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cider keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bruise.
Justin Cider seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bruise checks a low kick from Cider .
Cider throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Bruise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cider tried to score with a low kick but Bruise checks it.
Cider throws a leg kick but Bruise sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cider . Bruise does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Cider .

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Cider does it's job there.
Cider throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bruise counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cider takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Cider lands with a straight right. Bruise didn't see that one coming.
Cider throws a leg kick that misses.
Bruise looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bruise takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Justin Cider is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bruise slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bruise drops his hands momentarily and Cider takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cider throws a looping overhand right but Bruise ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Bruise was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cider throws a leg kick but Bruise sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cider defending well as Bruise loads up on a big left hand.
Cider lands a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An inside leg kick lands from Cider .
A chopping leg kick lands by Cider .
A head kick misses from Cider .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cider throws a solid leg kick but Bruise takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cider .
Cider avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cider uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bruise.
Cider chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bruise has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cider throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And Bruise tries to counter it with a takedown but Cider pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bruise throws a jab when Cider was well out of range.
Cider lands a nice shot that snaps Bruise's head back.
Bruise misses with a straight left.
Cider finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cider .
Cider fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bruise has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bruise on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Bruise looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bruise is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bruise won't allow Cider to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruise is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cider wants to stand but Bruise is controlling the position.
Bruise working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bruise won't allow Cider to get back to his feet.
Cider being controlled here, momentarily.
Bruise loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bruise slips nicely into half guard.
Cider looks like he's trying to stand up.

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.
Bruise looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cider is trying to stand back up but Bruise is controlling him
Bruise drops an elbow to the side of Cider 's head.
Bruise working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cider is looking to get back to is feet but Bruise passes into side control.
Bruise prevents Cider from escaping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bruise creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cider taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cider trying to remain calm as Bruise controls from the top position.
Bruise looks up at the clock and then as Cider takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bruise smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cider wants to get back to his feet but Bruise drags him back down.
Bruise landing a few strikes.
Cider is pushing Bruise's head away, looking to escape. Bruise manages to hold on to the position though.
Bruise is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cider will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bruise working the head with strikes.
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 Justin Cider will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bruise misses with a low kick.
Cider swings widly with a right hand
and Bruise counters with a nice uppercut.
Bruise uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cider .
Cider will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bruise cracks Cider with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cider thows a leg kick but Bruise checks it
enabling Bruise to counter with a crisp jab.
Bruise moves out of range of the strikes.
Bruise might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cider tries to score with a low kick but Bruise moves his leg out of the way.
The fighters circling - Cider throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cider on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cider throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cider looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cider explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cider scores with a nice strike.
Cider throws a looping overhand right but Bruise ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bruise looks to throw the jab but Cider is out of range.
Cider moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cider throws a head kick that misses
and Bruise counters with a straight right hand.
Bruise blocks a low kick nicely.
Bruise will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bruise walks into a left hand.
A bone on bone clash there as Bruise blocks the leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bruise! But no joy.
Bruise lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cider misses with a hook to the body
and Bruise counters with a left and a right that stings Cider .
Bruise on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cider . Cider obviously looking to wear him down.
Cider throws a poor cross that misses
and Bruise counters with a straight right hand.
Bruise's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bruise throws a jab but it's blocked by Cider .
Cider looks to land a left hand but Bruise moved out of range nicely.
Bruise throws out a counter right but Cider avoids it with no problem.
Cider wants to slow Bruise down by chopping away at his legs.
Cider throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bruise throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruise misses with a hook.
Justin Cider is winning the standup battle so far.
Cider cracks Bruise with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cider misses with a looping left.
Cider moves out of range of the strikes.
Cider throws a head kick but Bruise moves out of range.
Bruise avoids the body shot from Cider .
Bruise uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cider .
Bruise misses the jab.
Cider looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Bruise with a hook.
Cider will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bruise feints a counter leg kick.
Cider thuds a left hand into Bruise's body.
Cider ducks under a wild hook from Bruise.
Bruise missing with a left hand there. Cider was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cider throws a jab when Bruise was well out of range.
A big right from Bruise misses.
Cider throws a low kick but Bruise avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cider paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bruise tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cider was well out of range. Poor timing from Bruise.
Cider throws a leg kick but Bruise sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bruise throws a right hand that Cider ducks under and follows up with a left that Cider also avoids with ease.
Cider takes a swing at Bruise's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bruise! But no joy.
Bruise throws a hook but Cider blocks it.
Cider throws a front kick aimed at Bruise's knee but Bruise avoids it well.
Bruise steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cider .
Cider throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cider lands a jab to Bruise's midsection.
Cider jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bruise! But no joy.
Cider cracks the inside of Bruise's front leg.
Bruise misses with a body shot.
Cider fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bruise shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cider with a nice cross.
Bruise gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cider uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bruise swings for the body but Cider moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Cider on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cider misses with a body shot.
Cider just misses with a punch to the body.
Cider lands a jab.
Cider misses with a looping left.
Cider throws a low kick but Bruise moves out of range easily.
Bruise takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cider misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bruise scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bruise misses with a looping left.
Bruise uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cider .
Bruise uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cider .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Cider dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cider with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cider looks to throw the jab but Bruise is out of range.
Bruise now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cider .
Bruise lands a jab-cross combination.
A big left from Cider misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Cider misses the target.
Cider wants to land a leg kick but Bruise is out of range.
Cider scores with a nice body kick.
Cider throws a poor cross that misses
and Bruise counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cider staying out of range there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cider !
A jab from Cider misses.
Bruise is looking for the big counter here.
Cider throws the left hand but Bruise avoids the punch easily.
Cider throws a right hand that misses
and Cider takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cider .
Cider swings widly with a right hand
enabling Bruise to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cider misses with a right hand
enabling Bruise to counter with a crisp jab.
Cider misses with a two punch combination.
Cider loads up on a big right hand but Bruise slips the punch.
Cider attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cider lands a slapping body shot.
Bruise on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bruise avoids the body shot from Cider .
Cider fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bruise checks it well.
Cider takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bruise throws a hook but Cider blocks it.
Cider throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bruise.
A jab from Cider misses.
Bruise lands a really nice looking cross but Cider seems unphased.
Bruise takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cider misses with a wild body shot.
Bruise swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Bruise catches Cider right on the button with a cross.
A lazy left from Cider finds it's target.
Cider looks to land a right hand but Bruise moved out of range.
Cider throws a hook but Bruise avoids it easily.
Cider throws a body shot but no joy.
Cider throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cider slips a jab from Bruise.
A telegraphed right hand from Cider misses the target.
Bruise looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cider is looking to slow Bruise down with leg kicks.
Bruise shoots in and drives through. Cider sprawls well.
Bruise misses with a straight right.
Cider tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Cider misses.
Bruise throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cider keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cider throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bruise sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cider throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bruise sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cider keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cider misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bruise.
Cider tries a head kick but it misses.
Cider swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Despite the aggression on Bruise's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cider uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bruise.
Cider is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bruise.
Nice uppercut lands for Bruise. That snapped Cider 's head back.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cider lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bruise has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bruise and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Bruise slips a straight right by Cider .
Bruise checks a low kick from Cider .
Bruise swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A left and a right from Bruise both land. Nice combination.
Cider tries to score with a low kick but Bruise moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Bruise catches Cider right on the button with a cross.
Cider throws a poor cross that misses
and Bruise counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bruise steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cider .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cider misses with a looping left.
Cider looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Cider pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bruise throws a leg kick but Cider moved away.
Bruise swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dominick Bruise has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cider misses with an uppercut.
Cider uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bruise.
A swing and a miss from Cider .
Bruise uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cider .
Cider throws a sloppy body shot
and Bruise counters with a stiff right hand.
Cider checks a low kick from Bruise.
A shot to the body from Cider misses
and Bruise cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cider , as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Justin Cider .
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cider , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Cider !
After the fight, Justin Cider was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.