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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ridja Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ridja Cruz had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!
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| 175 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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170 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ridja Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dave Smith!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Smith is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ridja Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith working aggressively here.
Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
Smith has managed to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Smith jumps guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Smith has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cruz, up you get!
A head kick misses from Smith.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Dave Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dave Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cruz.
Smith darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
Cruz jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz working a defensive guard but Smith manages to pass into side control anyway.
Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cruz eats them both and turns towards Smith to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cruz tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ridja Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cruz throws a leg kick
and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Cruz can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith controlling the action here.
Smith stops Cruz from getting back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Smith is nestled in close to Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dave Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Smith clinches with his opponent.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Smith jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith pulls Cruz into guard.
Smith kicks Cruz off and gets to his feet.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith misses with some punches.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike from Smith.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Smith.
Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz which made him look bad.
Smith moves into the clinch.
Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ridja Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith 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.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Smith throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Smith gets the takedown into side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the position.
Smith looks up at the clock and then as Cruz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Smith smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cruz taking a bit of punishment here - Smith scoring with strikes.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dave Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is chipping away with strikes.
Ridja Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cruz taking punishment in the form of punches.
Smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cruz some visible discomfort.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Dave Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cruz's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Smith!
Dave Smith took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.
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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
66% |
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