PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tavares Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nasir Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Jones

175 cm
22
179 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Pro-Valiance Nutrition **SALE**
Pro-Valiance Nutrition **SALE**

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tavares Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nasir Jones!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
Jones looks gassed!
Some wild striking there from Jones.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Jones.
Cruz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Jones avoids nicely.
Cruz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Jones throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jones blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Jones blocks the body kick.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Jones backs away looking to recover.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Jones throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Jones throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jones swinging wildly here.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cruz throws a nice head kick!
Tavares Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz throws a push kick but Jones slaps the foot to one side.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Jones is out of range and Cruz settles back down.
Jones takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Jones throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters with a body kick.
Cruz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jones.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Jones shoots in.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones thows a leg kick but Cruz checks it
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cruz misses with a combination
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Cruz.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jones moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tavares Cruz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jones slips a straight right by Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that Jones semi-blocks.
Cruz tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz pushes Jones away with a front kick.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jones.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Jones is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz is trying to stand.
Jones controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cruz misses with a double jab
and Jones counters with a series of strikes. Cruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Jones misses.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jones moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Jones scores with a three punch combo!
Tavares Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones counters with a thumping low kick.
Tavares Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cruz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz misses with a kick to the body.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.

Jones looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cruz!
Cruz is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Jones controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones won't let Cruz get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nasir Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cruz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Jones is out of range and Cruz settles back down.
Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Jones counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz scores with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat.
Jones is looking to score with low kicks.
Cruz throws a leg kick

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cruz's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Cruz's guard.

Jones is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cruz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cruz has escaped and now he's on top!
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing Cruz from standing up.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but instead Jones has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Jones misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jones avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cruz's guard now.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
Jones is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nasir Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nasir Jones!