PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kane Nersesian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Cruz (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.

Nersesian
vs
Cruz

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Empire Threads

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kane Nersesian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chad Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nersesian defends it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Nersesian. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Cruz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nersesian. That one must have hurt.
Cruz shoots in but Nersesian avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kane Nersesian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Cruz.
Nersesian scores with a push kick.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Nersesian sprawls well.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Nersesian sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Nersesian manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nersesian tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Nersesian.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nersesian but Nersesian pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Chad Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nersesian gets tackled into the cage by Cruz. Cruz maintains the clinch.
Nersesian is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.
Nersesian can't break the clinch.
Nersesian is looking to break free of the clinch but Cruz has double underhooks.
Nersesian tries to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling the position.
Nersesian wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.
Nersesian is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nersesian working hard to break the clinch.
Nersesian has had enough of the clinch but Cruz keeps him there for the moment.
Cruz keeps control of Nersesian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nersesian wants to break free but Cruz has control.
A frustrated look appears on Nersesian's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cruz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nersesian wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cruz moves nicely into side control.
Nersesian is letting Cruz control him for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is putting a hurting on Nersesian here, landing some big shots from side control.
Nersesian on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nersesian tries to get out of the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz grinds an elbow into Nersesian's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Cruz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nersesian avoids it really well and circles away.

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nersesian's half guard.
Cruz not doing much here.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cruz is taking a breather. Nersesian says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chad Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cruz blocks a leg kick.
Nersesian displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Kane Nersesian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Cruz.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Nersesian.
Nersesian wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.
Nersesian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Nersesian pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Nersesian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Cruz works his way into full mount!
Nersesian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scoring with strikes but Nersesian is staying in there.
Chad Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cruz cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cruz looking to finish Nersesian with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nersesian!
Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Cruz lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a big elbow.

Nersesian is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Nersesian scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Cruz land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Cruz stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chad Cruz!