PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ace McNeal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominik Crux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

McNeal
vs
Crux

178 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Ace McNeal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominik Crux!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Crux. No joy for McNeal on that attempt.
Crux fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McNeal checks it well.
McNeal shoots in for a double leg but Crux sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Crux scores with a one two! McNeal had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
McNeal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crux as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace McNeal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McNeal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crux sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McNeal somewhat.
McNeal keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
McNeal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McNeal tries for a takedown but Crux sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Crux scores with a three punch combo!
McNeal avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Crux.
Crux lands a jab.
McNeal fails with a takedown attempt.
Crux lands with a shot to the body.
McNeal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Crux sprawls well. Crux wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McNeal gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McNeal.
McNeal is breathing heavily.
McNeal blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crux tries to score a power double leg takedown but McNeal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crux somewhat.
Crux tries for a takedown but McNeal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Crux misses with the combination.
McNeal tries to clinch there but Crux circles away.
Crux shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McNeal as he jumps to the side.
Crux fails to land with a series of punches.
Crux connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McNeal's hands.
McNeal fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeal swings for the body but Crux moves out of range.
McNeal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McNeal tries to clinch up
and Crux counters with a stiff right hand.
Crux lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ace McNeal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crux scores with a jab.
McNeal looks for a takedown but Crux sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McNeal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crux rushes McNeal and presses him up against the cage.
McNeal tries to land a knee to the head but Crux blocks with his arms.
Crux is trying to break the clinch but McNeal is controlling him.
McNeal has Crux pressed against the cage, preventing Crux from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Crux has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Crux has had enough of the clinch but McNeal keeps him there for the moment.
Crux working hard to break the clinch.
McNeal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McNeal wants a takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crux wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crux lands with a short shot to the head.
McNeal wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominik Crux dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Crux lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A shot to the liver by Crux. Beautiful body shot.
Ace McNeal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Crux closes the distance and clinches.
McNeal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McNeal misses with some punches.
Crux tries to circle away but McNeal has him pinned against the cage.
McNeal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crux walks away with a smile on his face. McNeal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Crux moves into the clinch.
McNeal has Crux pressed against the cage, preventing Crux from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McNeal tries to land knees in the clinch but Crux avoids the damage to the body.
Crux lands with a short shot to the head.
Crux is trying to break the clinch but McNeal has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
McNeal jumps guard but Crux stands there with McNeal around his waist. McNeal gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNeal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crux walks away with a smile on his face. McNeal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace McNeal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crux stalks McNeal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McNeal's face. McNeal staggers backwards, shaken.

Crux moves into the clinch successfully.
Crux wants to break free but McNeal has control.
McNeal putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Crux in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Crux can't break the clinch.
Crux tries to break free but McNeal pushes him back against the cage.
Crux is looking to break free of the clinch but McNeal has double underhooks.
McNeal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McNeal connects with a nasty looking knee right to Crux's face.
Crux tries to break the clinch but McNeal is controlling the position.
McNeal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Crux blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Crux.
Crux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Crux working hard to break the clinch.
Crux is trying to break the clinch but McNeal has him pressed against the cage.

Crux decides to pull guard.
McNeal wants to control from the top but Crux keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crux wants to stand up but McNeal is controlling him.

McNeal is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Crux is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Crux has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeal trying to strike off his back.
McNeal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Crux controlling from the top position.
Cruxis looking to pass into half guard but McNeal pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now McNeal is in guard.

McNeal drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Crux manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McNeal has Crux in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeal controls Crux momentarily but Crux frees himself.
McNeal keeping full guard, as Crux tries to pass.
Crux trying to stand up but can't free himself from McNeal's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McNeal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crux.
Crux has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McNeal is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominik Crux 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. And we move into the final round!

McNeal shoots in for a takedown but Crux shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Crux shoots in but no luck this time.

McNeal has Crux up against the cage in a clinch.
McNeal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McNeal missing with knees to the body.
McNeal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Crux.
McNeal throws a knee to the head but misses.
McNeal wants to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crux lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt McNeal or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crux lands a hook that snaps the head of McNeal backwards.
McNeal wants a takedown.
Crux stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Crux working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Crux is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Crux as McNeal tries to tie him up.
McNeal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McNeal keeps control of Crux as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Crux wants to get back to striking at distance but McNeal won't allow it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Crux.
McNeal misses with a knee to the head.
McNeal being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crux tries to circle away but McNeal has him pinned against the cage.
Crux wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crux is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
McNeal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crux walks away with a smile on his face. McNeal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace McNeal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crux throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab by Crux.
McNeal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crux circles away.
Crux lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crux goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Crux.

Crux moves into the clinch.
Crux looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McNeal tries to stall but Crux uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Crux wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Crux.
Crux managing to block the knees to the body from McNeal.
Crux is looking to break free of the clinch but McNeal has double underhooks.
McNeal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Crux's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crux has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for McNeal. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
McNeal pushes off an throws an elbow but Crux leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Crux wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McNeal has him pressed against the cage.
McNeal is trying to stall.
Crux throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McNeals head.
McNeal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Crux is defending well for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Crux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Crux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McNeal prevents Crux from breaking the clinch.
Crux drops down looking for an ankle pick but McNeal pulls his leg out and moves away.

Crux gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominik Crux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crux has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominik Crux!