PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Misha Collins (ranked 84 p4p, 13 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 193 p4p, 28 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Collins
vs
Cruz

167 cm
37
148 lbs
31 - 21 - 1

172 cm
34
144 lbs
27 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 31 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Misha Collins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Collins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Collins moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Collins misses with a few strikes there.
Collins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Collins pulls Cruz into guard.
Collins is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Collins can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Collins has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Cruz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Collins has managed to free his arm - good work.
Collins is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Collins avoid being mounted?
Collins has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Collins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Collins regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Collins looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.

Collins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz trying to control but Collins is working from the bottom.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz works over Collins with some ground and pound from guard.
Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Collins is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Collins is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but Collins is working from the bottom.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Collins has wrist control.
Collins keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

Collins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.

Collins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Collins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cruz works over Collins with some ground and pound from guard.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Collins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collins trying to control the position.

Collins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz pushes down on Collins's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but Collins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cruz to get the leverage.
Collins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!
Cruz tries to break free.
Will Collins go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Cruz tries to escape but Collins has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Collins is punishing Cruz with some ground and pound.
Cruz rolls, trying to escape but Collins keeps control of the position.
Collins throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Can Cruz hold on?! Collins is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Collins keeps control of the position as Cruz tries to break free.
Cruz wants to control his opponent's hands but Collins gets his hands free.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Collins lands shots from the back.
Cruz manages to reverse the position and now he's in Collins's guard. Nice work there by Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Collins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Collins is trying to keep Cruz in close.

Collins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dom Cruz will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Collins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Collins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Collins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Collins. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Collins connects with a crisp jab.
Good work by Collins as he checks the leg kick.

Collins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cruz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Collins sits in half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Collins is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Collins lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Collins has control of the leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Collins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cruz tries to roll over but Collins keeps him under control.
Cruz wants to sweep but Collins has passed to side control!
Collins trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Cruz manages to get back to half guard.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Collins is working away from the top position though.
Misha Collins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Collins is staying active.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cruz trying to control here.
Collins wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
Collins trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Collins is pushing down on Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Collins has managed to sneak the leg through.
Collins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz manages to get to full guard.
Cruz trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Collins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Collins wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Collins looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Our spies down at at Roosters Coop inform us that Cruz has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Collins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Collins defends easily.
Collins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Collins controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Collins from controlling successfully.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Collins's guard.

Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Collins keeps moving.

Collins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz trying to control but Collins is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Collins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Misha Collins dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Collins takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Collins lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cruz backs up against the cage.
Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Collins. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Collins pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cruz back to the cage. Collins follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Collins fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz dips to his left and cracks Collins with an uppercut!
A punch combination from Collins misses.
Collins avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz slips under a jab from Collins.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz takes a swing at Collins's ribcage but misses.
Cruz misses with a body shot
and Collins counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Collins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Collins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Collins looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Misha Collins is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz slips a jab from Collins.
Cruz clobbers Collins with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Collins misses with a straight left.
Collins takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A left lands for Cruz.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Collins was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Collins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Collins saw that one coming.
Collins half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Collins feints and as Cruz raises his hands in defense, Collins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Collins postures up.
Collins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Collins postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Collins manages to get himself to full guard.

Collins is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Collins working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Collins is keeping the position.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Collins has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Cruz distracts Collins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Collins is keeping the position for now.

Collins has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Collins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is working Collins over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Collins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cruz trying to control but Collins is working from the bottom.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Collins keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Collins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Collins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz won't allow Collins to sweep him here.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cruz stays in close to Collins's body and controls the position.

Collins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Collins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collins keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

Collins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Collins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Collins keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Misha Collins.
I think Collins 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Misha Collins!
Misha Collins was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.