PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dom Cruz (ranked 432 p4p, 51 weight class) and Derek Vinyard (ranked 590 p4p, 72 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cruz
vs
Vinyard

172 cm
31
144 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

167 cm
26
145 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Vinyard!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinyard misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vinyard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Cruz throws a leg kick but Vinyard moved away.
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vinyard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cruz moves out of range as Vinyard strikes.
Vinyard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vinyard lands with a straight right. Cruz didn't see that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Vinyard.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vinyard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cruz.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz lands a hook that snaps the head of Vinyard backwards.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dom Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vinyard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Vinyard swings wildly with an uppercut but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but Vinyard has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vinyard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cruz or not.
A shot in the inside from Vinyard.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vinyard after a bit of a struggle.

Cruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vinyard tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.

Cruz working for a triangle but Vinyard defends it easily.
Cruz has a closed guard, preventing Vinyard from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Vinyard controlling him for the moment.
Vinyard told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Vinyard pushes his legs off easily.
Vinyard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cruz's guard.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vinyard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vinyard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vinyard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vinyard gets to his feet - Cruz follows without any prompting.
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vinyard. Vinyard obviously looking to wear him down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cruz, right into the meat.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Vinyard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vinyard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Vinyard counters with a straight right hand.
Vinyard throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz takes one on the button.

Cruz is rocked!
Vinyard loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Vinyard swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
A jab from Vinyard misses.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cruz tries to move to mount but Vinyard blocks the move with his legs.
Vinyard parries the strikes from Cruz easily there. Cruz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vinyard to escape.
Vinyard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz throws an elbow but Vinyard slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vinyard to see if he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Vinyard 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 takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vinyard after a bit of a struggle.

Cruz gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Vinyard trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
Vinyard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Vinyard wants to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vinyard wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a strike but Vinyard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dom Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Vinyard seems keen to control Cruz's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vinyard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
Cruz stands and throws Vinyard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cruz lands some shots froms side control.
Cruz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Vinyard is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cruz is working Vinyard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Vinyard is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cruz scoring with punches from side control.

Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vinyard, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vinyard, who protects the arm well.
Cruz lands a few punches from side control.
Vinyard is trying to improve his position.
Cruz is putting a hurting on Vinyard here, landing some big shots from side control.
Cruz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Vinyard is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Vinyard is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vinyard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working Vinyard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cruz tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Vinyard taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
Cruz throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Vinyard works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Vinyard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vinyard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Vinyard wants to get back to his feet.
Vinyard gets full guard.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Vinyard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinyard wants to get up but he can't break Cruz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vinyard defends well.
Vinyard tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vinyard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vinyard tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Vinyard wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Cruz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Vinyard misses the target.
Vinyard lands an overhand right.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Vinyard's head.
Cruz slips a jab from Vinyard.
Vinyard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.
Vinyard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dom Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Vinyard's head.
Vinyard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Vinyard.
Vinyard looks to land a right hand but Cruz moved out of range.
Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps Vinyard's head back.
A big right from Vinyard misses.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vinyard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Vinyard's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinyard pulls Cruz in to control the position.
Vinyard wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Vinyard keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Vinyard is adopting a defensive guard.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vinyard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vinyard's head.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vinyard controlling Cruz's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Vinyard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Vinyard is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Vinyard pulls Cruz in to control the position.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Vinyard pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Vinyard looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz distracts Vinyard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.

Vinyard uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cruz throws a low kick but Vinyard moves out of range easily.
Cruz lands the left hand.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vinyard as he avoids it easily.
Vinyard is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cruz with a body shot.

Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vinyard on his heels. He'll look to pass Vinyard's guard now, I'm sure.
Vinyard managing to control the position.
Vinyard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Vinyard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz 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.
Vinyard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
Vinyard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vinyard controlling Cruz's posture.
Vinyard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vinyard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cruz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Vinyard keeps moving.
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!
Vinyard has momentary wrist control but Cruz slips an elbow through the middle.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vinyard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Cruz!
Dom Cruz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CAGED CROW Clothings 50$, into his post fight interview.