PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaheim Reid (ranked 2330 p4p, 2521 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 333 p4p, 363 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reid
vs
Cruz

191 cm
41
199
32 - 16 - 0

190 cm
31
198
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaheim Reid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reid moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Ricardo Cruz has been cut.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reid throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reid defends it nicely.
Jaheim Reid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Cruz.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Reid 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 Cruz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cruz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into Reid's guard.

Reid kicks Cruz off and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reid lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Reid saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reid displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Reid is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Reid keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reid controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Reid tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Cruz is trying to move to mount but Reid reverses beautifully and ends up in Cruz's guard.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Reid thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Cruz looking for subs off his back but Reid has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reid thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Reid missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Reid is controlling well.
Reid tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cruz controls his leg.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reid is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Reid is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reid controlling the action here.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reid wants to stand but Cruz has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reid.
Cruz is pressing down on Reid's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz looking to control.
Reid tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
Reid postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reid trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reid doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reid manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Reid avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Reid pushes his legs off easily.

Cruz is looking for a triangle here but Reid uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cruz wants to control but Reid postures up.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Reid's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jaheim Reid dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A clash of legs there as Cruz blocks the low kick.
Reid throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Ricardo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Reid, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Reid against the cage but Reid circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Reid thuds his right hand into Cruz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reid is looking to chop away at Cruz's legs.
Reid misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Cruz slips under a jab from Reid.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reid as he jumps to the side.
Reid tried to counter with a leg kick but Cruz avoided it.
Jaheim Reid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reid misses the jab.
Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Reid gets double underhooks and turns Cruz into the cage.
Reid scores with a jab. Cruz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Reid stuns Cruz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jaheim Reid is winning the standup battle so far.
Reid stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reid pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Reid sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Reid on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Reid jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
Reid is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Reid stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reid wants it to stay on the feet.
Cruz staying out of range there.
Reid connects with a crisp jab.
Reid moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Reid. That snapped Cruz's head back.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reid went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Reid throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Reid looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaheim Reid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick from Reid, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reid sprawls well. Reid wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Reid sizes up Cruz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reid bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Reid pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cruz with the counter takedown but Reid avoids it easily.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Reid counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
Reid is looking to score with low kicks.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reid circles away.
Reid throws a push kick but Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reid sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Cruz seems to be squinting his left eye. Perhaps he got a poke in that previous exchange. Reid shows no mercy and swarms him with a barage of strikes! Cruz is backing up but Reid catches him with a final right hook that drops him! Cruz covers up and the referee steps in to end the fight! Reid Jumps to his feet and flashes his guns to the crowd. Oh yeah, baby! How'd you like them apples?!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jaheim Reid!