PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Kennedy (ranked 4578 p4p, 4404 weight class) and Dustin Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 370 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kennedy
vs
Cruz

174 cm
22
155
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dustin Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kennedy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cruz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cruz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cruz tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Kennedy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Kennedy remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Cruz manages to get back to half guard.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cruz is looking to escape.
Kennedy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kennedy not doing much here.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kennedy content to control rather than advance.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kennedy wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Kennedy has control of the leg.
Kennedy is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Cruz with the active half guard here but Kennedy passes nicely into side control.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is trying to work for a sweep but Kennedy has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cruz trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cruz regains half guard.
Kennedy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Kennedy is very close to passing his half guard.
Kennedy is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kennedy scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Cruz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Cruz is rocked!

Kennedy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cruz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kennedy avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kennedy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cruz wants to control but Kennedy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Kennedy dominated that round.
That's time! Kennedy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cruz throws a one two combo.

Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kennedy sprawls well initially but Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kennedy manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Cruz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Kennedy manages to get underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Kennedy.
Kennedy gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.

Kennedy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kennedy wriggles free and stands up.

Kennedy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cruz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kennedy has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kennedy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Cruz is trying to escape the position but Kennedy is controlling the position.
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Kennedy keeps moving and retains side control.
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Kennedy cracks Cruz with a big right hand but Cruz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Kennedy keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Kennedy scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kennedy slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Cruz.
Kennedy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cruz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kennedy with a couple of short strikes.
Cruz wants to control but Kennedy is having none of it.
Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy controlling the position easily from mount.
Cruz is trying to escape the mount.
Kennedy unloading with bombs!
Jack Kennedy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kennedy looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kennedy is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cruz is surviving well by controlling Kennedy's body position as best he can.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy working for a guillotine from mount but Cruz is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz taking shots to the head.
Kennedy controlling from mount.
Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Cruz flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cruz looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Kennedy dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Kennedy as Cruz shoots in.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Kennedy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Kennedy defends easily.
Cruz wants to stand up but Kennedy is controlling him.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kennedy is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kennedy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy with a nice head shot there.
Kennedy pushing down on Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cruz flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kennedy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Kennedy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kennedy scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Kennedy is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kennedy to get the leverage.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Kennedy wants to free his trapped foot but Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cruz tries to kick Kennedy off in order to stand up. Kennedy Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kennedy is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kennedy blocks Cruz's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cruz tries to improve his position but instead Kennedy has taken his back!

Kennedy is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cruz has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Cruz is trying to stand back up.
Cruz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Kennedy is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cruz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cruz for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to escape the position.

Kennedy has the hooks in. Cruz is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Kennedy passes his arm under Cruz's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Cruz taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jack Kennedy!