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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rafael da Silva has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 171 cm
18
133 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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173 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily |
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BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael da Silva!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by da Silva.
da Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
da Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
da Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
da Silva tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. da Silva did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.
Cruz not doing much here.
Cruz stops da Silva from getting back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but da Silva defending well.
Cruz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dominick Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
da Silva lands a nice looking body shot.
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
da Silva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rafael da Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
da Silva is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - da Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
da Silva clinches.
da Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
da Silva gets through Cruz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cruz breaks the clinch.
da Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
da Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
da Silva tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
da Silva tries to clinch up.
Cruz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cruz passes da Silva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz not doing much here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Cruz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
da Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz is looking to advance position but da Silva won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
da Silva is looking to escape.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Dominick Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming da Silva to the mat! da Silva manages to get full guard.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
Cruz throws and elbow that misses. da Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by da Silva!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dominick Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
da Silva wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
da Silva is looking to clinch.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
da Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
da Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
da Silva tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
da Silva tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
da Silva tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz lands a damaging elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from da Silva.
Cruz jumps guard but da Silva stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
da Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but da Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
da Silva looks to clinch
and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
da Silva wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
da Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but da Silva is out of range.
da Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
da Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but da Silva is retaining full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafael da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Cruz.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
da Silva tries to clinch up
and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
da Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
da Silva trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dominick Cruz.
da Silva darts in trying to clinch
and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dominick Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
da Silva wants to clinch
and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cruz.
Cruz gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cruz content to control rather than advance.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. da Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
da Silva is looking to escape.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
da Silva moves to clinch but Cruz breaks away
and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. da Silva is keeping the position for now.
da Silva wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Silva wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Dominick Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
da Silva wants to clinch but Cruz slips to the side
and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cruz is controlling the pace.
Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows da Silva to get to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from da Silva does no damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Silva moves to clinch but Cruz breaks away
and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dominick Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz stands and throws da Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
da Silva is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cruz happy to just control the position for now.
da Silva is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for da Silva!
Cruz controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz stands up from mount. Strange move.
da Silva looks to clinch
so Cruz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz won't allow da Silva to get back to his feet.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dominick Cruz really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
da Silva looks to clinch
and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but da Silva is retaining full guard.
da Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
da Silva keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz won't allow da Silva to get back to his feet.
Cruz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cruz is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael da Silva wasn't doing enough on the ground.
da Silva wants to clinch
and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
da Silva is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz controls from within his opponent's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
da Silva closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. da Silva didn't expect that.
da Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
da Silva is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. da Silva is keeping the position for now.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
That's four 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.
da Silva wants to get back to his feet but Cruz drags him back down.
da Silva is letting Cruz control him for a moment.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Dominick Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
da Silva closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side
and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. da Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
da Silva is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz prevents da Silva from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dominick Cruz dominated that fourth round.
That's time! da Silva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
da Silva moves to clinch but Cruz breaks away
and Cruz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in da Silva's guard now.
Cruz stops da Silva from standing up.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but da Silva manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cruz has da Silva in his guard.
da Silva stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
That's one minute gone in the round.
da Silva distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
da Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
da Silva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
da Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
da Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz has da Silva pulled in close to control his posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
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.
Dominick Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
da Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cruz is pressing down on da Silva's thigh, looking to free his foot. da Silva is holding on for now.
da Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
da Silva is trying to stand.
da Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination
and da Silva counters with a left and a right that stings Cruz.
da Silva closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side
and Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for da Silva!
da Silva trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cruz content just to control the position here.
Cruz wants to control the pace but da Silva is squirming around nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
da Silva trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cruz content just to control the position here.
Rafael da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominick Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
da Silva throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dominick Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 43:50
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 43:50
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 43:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Cruz!
Dominick Cruz is the new bantamweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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