PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lito Alcala (ranked 436 p4p, 58 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 325 p4p, 38 weight class). Dom Cruz acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Alcala
vs
Cruz

169 cm
32
146 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

172 cm
35
144 lbs
29 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lito Alcala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Alcala is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alcala is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Big Bear Fight Factory that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Cruz working for a guillotine from mount but Alcala is in no mood to give up.
Alcala is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz tries to control but Alcala wriggling away.
Cruz controlling from mount.
Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cruz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cruz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cruz landing strikes from the mount and Alcala is in trouble!
Alcala is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cruz misses with a head shot.
Cruz lands a heavy elbow.
Cruz cracks Alcala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alcala bucks Cruz off and manages to get back to his feet!
Cruz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cruz has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Cruz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alcala swivels and escapes.
It looked like Alcala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alcala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Alcala is working away.
Alcala is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alcala is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Cruz is stalling here. Alcala is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Cruz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Alcala has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Cruz struggling a bit here.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cruz controlling the pace.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alcala is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alcala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Alcala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alcala keeps working.
Cruz working over Alcala with some ground and pound. Alcala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Alcala is looking to escape.

Alcala kicks off Cruz and gets to his feet.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz feints a jab promting Alcala to slip. Cruz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Alcala slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Alcala's body. Alcala takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cruz misses with a double jab
enabling Alcala to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alcala throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz throws a combination that misses

and Alcala counters with a right hand that sends Cruz tumbling to the canvas! Can Alcala finish him? He dives into Cruz's guard looking to do just that!

Cruz is rocked!

Alcala stands and steps away. Cruz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Alcala finish him?
Cruz tries to clinch but Alcala is having none of it.
Cruz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Alcala tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alcala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alcala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cruz seems to have recovered his senses.
Lito Alcala is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alcala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alcala takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses

and Alcala counters with a beautiful punch that sends Cruz to the canvas!

Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Alcala gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cruz throws a front kick aimed at Alcala's knee but Alcala avoids it well.
Cruz throws a push kick but Alcala slaps the foot to one side.
Alcala swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz throws a right hand that misses
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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 throws a series of punches but Alcala moves out of range.
It looked like Alcala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lito Alcala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alcala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lito Alcala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.

Alcala manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Alcala doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Alcala slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruz with the inside leg kick.
Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Alcala gets double underhooks and turns Cruz into the cage.
Alcala walks into a jab.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Alcala throws a big counter combination but Cruz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alcala napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Alcala throws Cruz to one side and escapes!
Alcala takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a sloppy body shot
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Alcala on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dom Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz dips to his left and cracks Alcala with an uppercut!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!
Cruz misses with a hook
and Alcala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Alcala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz misses the jab.
Alcala lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alcala appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Alcala moved out of range nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Alcala on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alcala is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Alcala sprawls well.
Alcala half committed to a counter leg kick.
Alcala cracks Cruz on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Cruz falls backwards against the cage. Alcala follows up with more strikes that drop Cruz to his knees. Alcala keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Cruz! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lito Alcala!
Lito Alcala was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.