PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Cruz (ranked 3537 p4p, 6054 weight class) and Jack Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Face The Pain. Dominick Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Hammer

173 cm
25
135
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
135
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

PWNAGE Elite - $25 Tees
PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dominick Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hammer attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz throws a quick counter head kick but Hammer was just out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Hammer as Cruz shoots in.
Hammer misses with a body kick.
Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Nice sprawl there from Hammer as Cruz shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominick Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hammer defends it nicely.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hammer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cruz!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control Hammer's posture but Hammer avoids it.

Hammer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cruz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hammer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cruz regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz tries to kick Hammer off but Hammer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cruz kicks off Hammer and gets to his feet.
Hammer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hammer on his heels. He'll look to pass Hammer's guard now, I'm sure.

Hammer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Hammer sprawls well.
Hammer misses with a combination
and Cruz counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Hammer shows good takedown defense.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.

Hammer shoots in and bounces Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hammer wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dominick Cruz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Hammer shoots in.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Hammer moves out of range.
Dominick Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz motions for Hammer to come forward. Cruz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz connects with a leg kick.
Hammer slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Hammer fails with the takedown.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Hammer raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in but Hammer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammer moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hammer pinned against the cage. Hammer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hammer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Hammer.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Hammer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hammer is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hammer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hammer.
Cruz throws a big counter combination but Hammer scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Dominick Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Hammer.
Hammer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hammer can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cruz lands with a hook. Hammer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hammer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hammer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cruz with a body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hammer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer moves out of range of the body kick.
Hammer fails to land the takedown.
Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. Hammer shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Dominick Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Hammer throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cruz throws a head kick but Hammer moves out of range.

Hammer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammer looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammer trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Hammer.
Cruz wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hammer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cruz.
Hammer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hammer shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hammer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz thows a body kick. Hammer tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Cruz throws a series of strikes that have Hammer backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cruz.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hammer, pushing him back against the cage.

Hammer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dominick Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hammer's guard.

Hammer is working an open guard so Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cruz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cruz goes for a double leg but Hammer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hammer continues to drive forward.
Hammer is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dominick Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Hammer.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cruz drives through and clinches with Hammer against the cage.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammer looks to land a body kick but Cruz moved away.
Cruz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hammer eats them both and turns towards Cruz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cruz throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Hammer counters with a takedown into side control.

Cruz throws Hammer to one side and escapes!
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hammer or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz, which made it look bad.
Dominick Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hammer's head.
Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up and waves to Hammer to follow him.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hammer moves away.
Hammer with a nice calf kick.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cruz!
Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
A solid body kick from Cruz.
Hammer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hammer defends it nicely.

Hammer clinches with his opponent.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hammer.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hammer tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Hammer's guard.
Jack Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hammer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominick Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Cruz!
Our winner, Dominick Cruz, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.