PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Shamrock (ranked 23 p4p, 5 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 110 p4p, 15 weight class). Shamrock comes to the cage accompanied by One Winged Angel by The Black Mages. Nick Shamrock could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dom Cruz's chin.

Shamrock
vs
Cruz

170 cm
36
148 lbs
39 - 8 - 0

172 cm
34
144 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Shamrock!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Shamrock swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shamrock is looking to counter punch.
Cruz connects with a jab.
Shamrock has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Cruz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cruz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Shamrock is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Shamrock takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Shamrock has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Cruz is on him like a limpet, forcing Shamrock back against the cage.
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!
Cruz tries to pull guard but Shamrock forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shamrock misses with a body punch.
Shamrock is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shamrock down to the mat. Shamrock avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Donk. Cruz catches Shamrock right on the button with a cross.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz stuns Shamrock with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cruz with a poor takedown
enabling Shamrock to counter with a crisp jab.
Nick Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.

Cruz forces Shamrock back against the cage and clinches.
Shamrock misses with the head strike.
Cruz jumps guard but Shamrock stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Shamrock as the two fighters clinch.
Shamrock tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Shamrock back against the cage.
Shamrock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shamrock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cruz's elbow.
Shamrock prevents the takedown attempt.
Shamrock lands a shot to the body.
Cruz looks winded!
Shamrock tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Shamrock.
Shamrock lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Shamrock.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shamrock lands a right hand.
Shamrock lands a left hand.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shamrock gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Shamrock controls his hands.
Shamrock misses with a body punch.
Shamrock has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Shamrock working aggressively here.

Cruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Shamrock stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nick Shamrock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A leg kick checked by Shamrock.
A quick step to the side and Shamrock tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Shamrock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but Shamrock moves away
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz goes for a double leg but Shamrock avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shamrock continues to drive forward.
Shamrock tried to counter with a leg kick but Cruz avoided it.
A good leg kick by Cruz.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Shamrock is just out of range.
Shamrock was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Shamrock avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Shamrock avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Shamrock appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruz scores with a one two! Shamrock had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Shamrock's shoulder, as Shamrock tries to avoid the shot.
Shamrock throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Good exchange - Shamrock coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands an overhand right.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Shamrock pushes him off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz throws a leg kick
and Shamrock counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shamrock.

Cruz feints and as Shamrock raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Shamrock is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shamrock is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
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 Nick Shamrock will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shamrock as he avoids it easily.
Shamrock was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Shamrock saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz wants to clinch but Shamrock slips to the side
and Shamrock counters with a thumping low kick.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Shamrock tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shamrock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shamrock is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nick Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.
Shamrock jabs at Cruz's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shamrock misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws a predictable looking body shot

and Shamrock counters with a nice right hand that sends Cruz toppling to the canvas! Cruz scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Shamrock finish him?!
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Shamrock finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Cruz - just one landing.
Shamrock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Shamrock stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cruz.
Shamrock misses with a low kick.
Cruz seems to have recovered his senses.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Shamrock circles away.
Shamrock throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Dom Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz misses with an uppercut
and Shamrock scores with a counter punch that sends Cruz to the canvas! Shamrock smells blood - he's punishing Cruz with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Cruz has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Shamrock!
Nick Shamrock retains his featherweight title!
Nick Shamrock decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.