PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dom Cruz (ranked 291 p4p, 40 weight class) and Brody Kavanagh (ranked 78 p4p, 11 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Kavanagh

172 cm
31
144 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

174 cm
33
152 lbs
26 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

CAGED CROW Clothings 50$
Urban Fighter

CAGED CROW Clothings 50$
Conviction

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 21 - 11 - 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 26 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brody Kavanagh!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kavanagh misses with a hook.
Cruz is looking to chop away at Kavanagh's legs.

Kavanagh cracks Cruz with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Cruz looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Kavanagh finish him?

Cruz is rocked!

It looks like Dom Cruz has been cut.
Kavanagh thows a leg kick but Cruz checks it

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Oh Cruz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kavanagh is pulling down on Cruz's head to control his posture.
Kavanagh is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Kavanagh keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kavanagh is keeping the position for now.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Kavanagh keeps moving.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Kavanagh is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Kavanagh gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kavanagh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kavanagh controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kavanagh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz looking to control.
Kavanagh working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kavanagh defends it easily.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kavanagh defends it easily.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Kavanagh is stalling in the full guard.
Kavanagh wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Kavanagh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Kavanagh from controlling successfully.
Kavanagh works over Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Kavanagh sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kavanagh wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Kavanagh controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Kavanagh postures up.
Kavanagh trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Cruz working for a triangle but Kavanagh defends it easily.
Kavanagh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kavanagh controls from within his opponent's guard.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kavanagh defends well.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Kavanagh tries to pass.

That's four 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.
Kavanagh's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kavanagh got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kavanagh has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Kavanagh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kavanagh can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Kavanagh is not content to let Cruz control the position.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Kavanagh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dom Cruz's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big right from Cruz misses.
Kavanagh jabs at Cruz's body.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cruz blocks a jab.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Kavanagh is just out of range.
A solid body kick from Kavanagh.
Kavanagh throws a lazy uppercut

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Kavanagh won't allow it.

Kavanagh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kavanagh closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Kavanagh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kavanagh trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kavanagh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kavanagh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kavanagh wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Kavanagh content to stall in guard here.
Kavanagh trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz controls Kavanagh momentarily but Kavanagh frees himself.
Kavanagh advances to half guard.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kavanagh pulls his head out easily.
Cruz is not content to let Kavanagh control the position.
Kavanagh keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kavanagh is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Cruz wants to control but Kavanagh is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Kavanagh.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Kavanagh is controlling well.
Kavanagh controlling the action here.
Brody Kavanagh has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Kavanagh sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to control Kavanagh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Cruz tries to roll over but Kavanagh keeps him under control.
Cruz trying to control here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Kavanagh has control of the leg.
Kavanagh seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kavanagh is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kavanagh to get the leverage.
Cruz tries to roll over but Kavanagh keeps him under control.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Kavanagh passes to side control.
Kavanagh advances nicely into full mount.
Kavanagh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kavanagh controlling from mount.
Cruz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kavanagh tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Kavanagh working for a submission but Cruz is keeping him at bay.
Kavanagh landing strikes from the mount.
Kavanagh tries to control but Cruz wriggling away.
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kavanagh scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cruz?
Kavanagh sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kavanagh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brody Kavanagh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dom Cruz'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. And we move into the final round!

Cruz stuns Kavanagh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Kavanagh moved out of range nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kavanagh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kavanagh looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Cruz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kavanagh takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kavanagh throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kavanagh thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cruz if he has to take too many more of those.
Cruz staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kavanagh swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz feints a jab promting Kavanagh to slip. Cruz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kavanagh slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kavanagh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kavanagh.
A telegraphed right hand from Kavanagh misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kavanagh quickly recovers to half guard.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Kavanagh is working away.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Kavanagh won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kavanagh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!
Kavanagh trying to control momentarily.

Kavanagh tightening his grip on Cruz, looking for the choke.
Cruz tries to roll but Kavanagh sticks to his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Kavanagh is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh gets his hands free as Cruz looks to control.
Dom Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cruz is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Kavanagh keeps control of the position as Cruz tries to break free.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz trying to control the position but Kavanagh manages to sink in the hooks.
Kavanagh throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Kavanagh is trying to stick to Cruz's back but Cruz is turning into Kavanagh. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kavanagh's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Cruz.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Kavanagh is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Cruz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kavanagh is trying to get back to full guard.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.

Kavanagh is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kavanagh is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cruz throws a strike but Kavanagh rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kavanagh controls the pace.
Kavanagh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kavanagh trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Kavanagh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brody Kavanagh.
I've got Kavanagh winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brody Kavanagh!
Brody Kavanagh seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.