PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Bow Down (to no man). Maurice Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Cruz

169 cm
27
142 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

MayheM sportswear

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurice Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
As Cruz backs away, Smith returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Cruz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
My spies in Roosters Coop inform me that Cruz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Smith's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith, which made it look bad.
Smith looks for the body kick but Cruz saw that one coming.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Cruz distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz works his way into side control.
Cruz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smith is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Cruz from passing to mount.
Smith on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith is holding Cruz down, trying to stall.
The ground and pound from Cruz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Smith regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Cruz throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Smith fires out a quick counter leg kick but Cruz just manages to avoid it.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Smith is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz tries to advance position but instead Smith slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cruz working Smith over with strikes here.
Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Cruz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Smith is in a horrible position here. Cruz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cruz scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Smith is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Smith wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Cruz celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dom Cruz!
After winning the bout, Dom Cruz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Maurice Smith had this to say: 'I took a risk taking this fight. But to be the best you have to beat the best and in the words of the great Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I PEE BLACK"'.