PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phil Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominick Cruz will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Williams
vs
Cruz

189 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dominick Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Williams lands a couple of elbows.
Williams prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.

Williams drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Williams off! Williams jumps back into Cruz's guard.
Williams thows a big elbow that misses.
Williams with a nice head shot there.

Williams is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Williams had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cruz escapes and throws Williams's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Williams is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cruz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Williams is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Williams actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Williams looking for subs from the bottom but Cruz mounts him!
Williams is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz controlling the position easily from mount.

Cruz jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Williams manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cruz's best efforts.
The fighters are battling for position here. Williams manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cruz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Williams 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.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz postures up in Williams's guard and throws a big left but Williams blocks it.

Williams working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cruz has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
It looks like Cruz is going to stand back up.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but Williams is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cruz to get the leverage.
Cruz wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Cruz looks gassed!

Williams looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Williams wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.

Williams looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Williams does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Cruz is looking for a kimura here.

Williams looking for submissions off his back.

Williams actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Williams dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Williams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cruz to the mat! Cruz manages to get full guard.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Williams stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
Williams stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Williams drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Williams off! Williams jumps back into Cruz's guard.
Williams is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Williams slips nicely into half guard.
Williams has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Williams is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Williams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Williams looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Phil Williams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Williams doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Williams manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Williams lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Williams passes into half guard.

Williams is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Williams. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Williams trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.
Nice strikes from Williams there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams moves into full mount! Cruz won't be happy about that!

Williams jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cruz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cruz and Williams has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Williams works to advance to full mount. Cruz defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Cruz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Williams working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cruz wants to hold on but Williams pushes him away.
Williams pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Williams avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Williams lands a heavy elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Williams has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cruz's face.
Williams with shots to the head and body - Cruz looks very uncomfortable down there.
Williams raining down shots from the mount!

Williams working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Williams has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cruz's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams landing strikes from the mount.

Williams looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Williams dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Williams 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 looking to get to half guard.
Cruz tries to hold on but Williams postures up.
Williams fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Williams cracks Cruz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cruz tries to hold on but Williams pushes him away.
Cruz taking shots to the head.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams landing shots from mount.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Williams isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Williams is having none of it.
Williams is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Cruz is in real trouble.

Cruz defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Williams's arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Williams looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Cruz taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Phil Williams!