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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Cook (ranked 1147 p4p, 129 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 643 p4p, 82 weight class). Josh Cook has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 173 cm
29
154 lbs
17 - 10 - 0 |
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172 cm
33
144 lbs
24 - 16 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent 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 featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Cook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook cracks Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Cook takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Cook.
Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Cook.
Cook takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cook.
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.
The crowd cheers as Cook lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cruz doesn't seem phased though.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cook looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cook.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Cook appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz throws a series of punches but Cook moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cook rather than just go for the knockout.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Cook.
Cruz lands with a slapping head kick.
Cook throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Cruz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cook.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cook swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cook avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cook lands with a shot to the body.
Cruz stalks Cook and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cook's face. Cook staggers backwards, shaken.
Cook connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cruz momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cook swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Cruz.
Cruz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cook.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cook moves away.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cook.
Cruz was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Cook shows good takedown defense.
Josh Cook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.
Cook scores with a jab to the head.
Cook loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Cruz lands a jab to Cook's midsection.
A swing and a miss from Cook.
Cruz throws out a counter right but Cook avoids it with no problem.
Cook throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cook lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The fighters circling - Cook throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sloppy strikes there by Cruz.
Cruz trying to control the action but Cook is working from the bottom.
Cruz working the ground and pound but Cook is defending the strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cruz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cruz wants to control but Cook is keeping him busy.
Cruz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Cook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Cruz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cruz misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cook is not content to let Cruz control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cruz taking a breather here.
Cruz working away.
Cruz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cruz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cruz moves into full mount!
Cruz with a couple of short strikes.
Cruz with shots to the head and body - Cook looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cruz looking to ground and pound but Cook is blocking nicely.
Cook is bucking up trying to escape but Cruz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dom Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Cruz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cook's head backwards.
Cook ducks right into an uppercut from Cruz.
A bone on bone clash there as Cook blocks the leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Cook. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz throws a leg kick that misses.
Cook throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Cook bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A quick step to the side and Cook tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cook prevents Cruz from moving into mount.
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cook's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cook wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Cook 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.
Cook defending against the ground and pound.
Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cook, who protects the arm well.
Cruz in the domination position with Cook hanging on.
Cook prevents Cruz from improving position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cook is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is staying tight to Cook's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cruz working the ground and pound but Cook is defending the strikes.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cook struggling a bit here.
Cruz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cook defending against the ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the action but Cook is working from the bottom.
Cook is letting Cruz control him for a moment.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A lull in the action here as Cruz stalls from top position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cook sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cook struggling a bit here.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cook knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
An elbow from Cruz crashes against the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cook is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.
An elbow from Cruz crashes against the mat.
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.
That's time! Cook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cook checks a leg kick.
Cook throwing a counter right hand but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cook takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cook scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Cook sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cook throws a big counter combination but Cruz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nice body punch from Cruz.
Cook throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Cruz works the jab nicely.
Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Cook works on Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz decides to pull guard.
Cruz looking to control.
Cook won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Cook sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Cook is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz wants to control but Cook is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cook is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cook.
Cruz is pressing down on Cook's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cook's guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Cook keeps moving.
Josh Cook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook is pulling down on Cruz's head to control his posture.
Cook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cook is controlling Cruz's posture.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Cook blocks nicely.
Cook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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.
Cruz stands and throws Cook's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dom Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Cook is defending well.
Cruz working away.
Cruz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cook will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cruz lands a nice forearm strike.
Cruz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cook will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cruz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
You can see the frustration on Cook's face as Cruz controls the position.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Cook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Cook gets double underhooks and turns Cruz into the cage.
Cruz thuds a left hand into Cook's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cook throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Cook misses with a hook.
Cook leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cruz 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Cruz!
Dom Cruz really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Urban Fighter logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
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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
40% |
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