PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Dominiguez (ranked 4223 p4p, 4636 weight class) and Dilon Goncalves (ranked 403 p4p, 425 weight class). Goncalves is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by TAPOUT. Dilon Goncalves told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Dominiguez
vs
Goncalves

173 cm
40
147
20 - 10 - 0

180 cm
32
150
13 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cruz Dominiguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dilon Goncalves!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goncalves cracks a nice hook into Dominiguez's ribs.

Dominiguez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Goncalves looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dominiguez in side control, throwing shots but Goncalves defends.
Goncalves is trying to improve his position.
Goncalves is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dominiguez connects with a decent elbow.
Dominiguez throwing strikes but Goncalves manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Dominiguez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Goncalves is looking for a kimura but Dominiguez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Goncalves to get the leverage.

Goncalves is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dominiguez has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Dominiguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Dominiguez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Goncalves is on him like a limpet, forcing Dominiguez back against the cage.

Goncalves pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominiguez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dominiguez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dominiguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Dominiguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dominiguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Goncalves preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dominiguez wants to control from the top but Goncalves keeps moving.
Dominiguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dominiguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dominiguez passes Goncalves's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dominiguez throwing shots but Goncalves is blocking nicely.
Still in half guard, Dominiguez seems content to control.
Dominiguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Goncalves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Goncalves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dominiguez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dominiguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dominiguez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dominiguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Goncalves defending well though.

Dominiguez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Goncalves tries to get to full guard but Dominiguez has control of the leg.

Goncalves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dominiguez pulls his head out easily.
Dominiguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goncalves's head.
Dominiguez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dominiguez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dominiguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goncalves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dominiguez pulls his head out easily.

Goncalves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dominiguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goncalves's head.

Dominiguez decides to return to a standing position.
Dominiguez circles away from the clinch attempt.

Dominiguez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Goncalves on his heels. He'll look to pass Goncalves's guard now, I'm sure.
Dominiguez is stalling in the full guard.
Dominiguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Goncalves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dominiguez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Goncalves keeping moving, preventing Dominiguez from controlling successfully.
Dominiguez throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez throws an elbow that misses. Goncalves uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dominiguez's guard. Nice move by Goncalves!

Dominiguez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dominiguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dominiguez keeping full guard, as Goncalves tries to pass.

Dominiguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goncalves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Goncalves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dominiguez is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cruz Dominiguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dominiguez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dominiguez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dominiguez is looking to stall here but Goncalves recovers full guard.
Dominiguez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dominiguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Goncalves is looking for a triangle but Dominiguez pushes his legs off easily.
Dominiguez throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominiguez postures up and lands a big shot to Goncalves's brow.

Dominiguez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Dominiguez rushes Goncalves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Goncalves misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goncalves decides to pull guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dominiguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dominiguez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dominiguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dominiguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Goncalves has wrist control.
Goncalves keeping moving, preventing Dominiguez from controlling successfully.

Dominiguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dominiguez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Our spies down at at Navy Street MMA inform us that Goncalves has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Dominiguez throwing strikes from guard but Goncalves blocks nicely.

Goncalves is working an open guard so Dominiguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Dominiguez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Goncalves napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dominiguez throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Goncalves works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Goncalves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Goncalves moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Goncalves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dominiguez defends it easily.
Goncalves is breathing heavily.
Dominiguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Goncalves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Goncalves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Goncalves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dominiguez.

Goncalves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dominiguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Goncalves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dominiguez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dominiguez advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goncalves keeps working.
Cruz Dominiguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dominiguez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Goncalves is looking to reverse the position.
Goncalves dodges the ground and pound from Dominiguez.
Goncalves tries to buck Dominiguez off but Dominiguez is having none of it.
Dominiguez 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.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.
Dominiguez tries to score with some ground and pound. Goncalves controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goncalves avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dominiguez.

Dominiguez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Goncalves tries to bench press Dominiguez off him but Dominiguez keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves dodges the ground and pound from Dominiguez.
Goncalves is looking to regain half guard here but Dominiguez keeps moving and retains side control.
Dominiguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Goncalves can do to turn this around?
Dominiguez is looking to take a break and control but Goncalves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dominiguez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Goncalves is avoiding damage well.
Goncalves sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Goncalves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dominiguez.
Dominiguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Dominiguez is trying to work for a kimura but Goncalves is defending well.
Dominiguez looks to land a strike but Goncalves avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dominiguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Goncalves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dominiguez is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cruz Dominiguez dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Goncalves gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dominiguez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Goncalves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dominiguez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dominiguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dominiguez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dominiguez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goncalves keeping moving, preventing Dominiguez from controlling successfully.
Dominiguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominiguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dominiguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dominiguez wants to control from the top but Goncalves keeps moving.

Goncalves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dominiguez is aware though and is defending well.
Dominiguez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominiguez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dominiguez postures up and lands a big shot to Goncalves's brow.

Goncalves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dominiguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Goncalves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dominiguez is working Goncalves over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dominiguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Goncalves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dominiguez working some strikes from top position.

Dominiguez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Goncalves, up you get!

Dominiguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Goncalves did well to prevent Dominiguez getting side control.

Goncalves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dominiguez wants to free his trapped foot but Goncalves is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominiguez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dominiguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Goncalves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dominiguez.
Goncalves tries to roll over but Dominiguez keeps him under control.

Goncalves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goncalves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dominiguez.
Dominiguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Goncalves is refusing to be controlled, as Dominiguez sits in half guard.
Dominiguez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Goncalves is not content to let Dominiguez control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goncalves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dominiguez pulls his head out easily.
Goncalves is staying active underneath Dominiguez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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. Dominiguez connects with a nice short shot to Goncalves's temple.
Cruz Dominiguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dominiguez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dominiguez content to control rather than advance.
Dominiguez thows a huge punch but Goncalves dodges it nicely.
Dilon Goncalves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominiguez drops an elbow to the side of Goncalves's head.
Dominiguez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dominiguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Goncalves actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Goncalves looking for submissions off his back.
Dominiguez working Goncalves over with strikes.
Goncalves keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dominiguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goncalves's head.
Dominiguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goncalves's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Dominiguez is trying to work for a kimura but Goncalves is defending well.
Dominiguez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dominiguez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dominiguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goncalves's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz Dominiguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dominiguez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cruz Dominiguez!