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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeo Nagasaki (ranked 928 p4p, 49 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 965 p4p, 51 weight class). Nagasaki's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, You're The Voice. Takeo Nagasaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 163 cm
26
135 lbs
6 - 1 - 0 |
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172 cm
26
144 lbs
12 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takeo Nagasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Nagasaki throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nagasaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cruz is rocked!
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nagasaki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Nagasaki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nagasaki to the ground. Cruz is now in Nagasaki's guard.
Nagasaki trying to control the position.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nagasaki is keeping the position for now.
Nagasaki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nagasaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nagasaki controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagasaki keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Nagasaki.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Cruz passes Nagasaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nagasaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cruz connects with a nice short shot to Nagasaki's temple.
Nagasaki wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagasaki holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Nagasaki wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Nagasaki is working away.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nagasaki is controlling Cruz's trapped leg to prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz is thwarting Nagasaki's attempts to control the position.
Nagasaki is concentrating on defense, preventing Cruz from advancing position.
Cruz is trying to control. Nagasaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz is taking a breather. Nagasaki 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.
Nagasaki tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Nagasaki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Nagasaki is defending the position.
Nagasaki looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagasaki looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nagasaki makes his way to full guard, as Cruz worked for a kimura.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Nagasaki keeps moving.
Nagasaki trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nagasaki is on top in guard.
Cruz working for a triangle but Nagasaki defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dom 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.
Nagasaki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cruz throws a low kick but Nagasaki moves out of range easily.
Cruz defending well as Nagasaki loads up on a big left hand.
Nagasaki avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Nagasaki gets caught napping as Cruz dives in and scores a takedown. Nagasaki manages to retain guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Nagasaki keeps moving.
Nagasaki is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nagasaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz won't allow Nagasaki to sweep him here.
Nagasaki looking to control.
Dom Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nagasaki keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz works over Nagasaki with some ground and pound from guard.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz postures up in Nagasaki's guard and throws a big left but Nagasaki blocks it.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Nagasaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz distracts Nagasaki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Nagasaki keeps moving.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Nagasaki blocks nicely.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Nagasaki keeps moving.
Nagasaki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Nagasaki blocks nicely.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Nagasaki blocks nicely.
Nagasaki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nagasaki is pulling down on Cruz's head to control his posture.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nagasaki throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cruz swings for the body but Nagasaki moves out of range.
Nagasaki is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nagasaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nagasaki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nagasaki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Nagasaki avoids them all with ease.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nagasaki rather than just go for the knockout.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nagasaki.
And Cruz tries to counter it with a takedown but Nagasaki pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nagasaki manages to avoid it.
Nagasaki throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Nagasaki lands a nice hook to Cruz's body. Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Nagasaki ducks down to avoid it.
Dom Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nagasaki moves away.
Cruz shoots in but Nagasaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nagasaki is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Cruz's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Nagasaki jabs at Cruz's body.
Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nagasaki.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nagasaki avoids a kick to the body.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Nagasaki is just out of range.
As Cruz backs away, Nagasaki returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nagasaki. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takeo Nagasaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nagasaki cracks Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Nagasaki misses the target.
Nagasaki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cruz moves out of range of the leg kick from Nagasaki.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nagasaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dom Cruz 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. This is the final round!
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nagasaki but Nagasaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takeo Nagasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nagasaki avoids the body shot from Cruz.
A good leg kick by Cruz.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nagasaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nagasaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nagasaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagasaki looking to control.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nagasaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nagasaki keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. Nagasaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by Nagasaki!
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nagasaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nagasaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Nagasaki wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nagasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nagasaki wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Nagasaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nagasaki has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Nagasaki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.
Nagasaki is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.
Dom Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nagasaki is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nagasaki is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nagasaki to get the leverage.
Cruz is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Nagasaki trying to pass the guard but Cruz defending well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Nagasaki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz keeps trying to improve his position.
Nagasaki seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.
Cruz controlling the position for now.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cruz cracks Nagasaki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nagasaki blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Nagasaki has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagasaki throws a head punch that misses.
Nagasaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nagasaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nagasaki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nagasaki clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Nagasaki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Cruz!
Dom Cruz took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Ive said it over and over. No one can match my training, my speed, my intelligence. I won this fight before I stepped into the ring.'.
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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
35% |
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