PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Endo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Endo

170 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
152 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Endo!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Endo misses with a takedown attempt

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Endo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz prevents Endo from improving his position.
Endo is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Endo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
Cruz is pushing down on Endo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Endo is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Endo defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Endo punching from the bottom.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Endo's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is nestled in close to Endo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Endo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Endo.
Cruz passes Endo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Endo is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Endo avoid being mounted?
Cruz trying to control the action but Endo is working from the bottom.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Endo defends it well.
Cruz is keen to just control but Endo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
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 Endo's temple.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Endo makes his way to full guard, as Cruz worked for a kimura.
Endo keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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!
Check out the look on Cruz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Endo is trying to control Cruz's posture but Cruz avoids it.
Endo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Endo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Endo is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Endo won't allow it.

Cruz is trying to work for a kimura but Endo is defending well.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Endo is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz moves nicely into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Endo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Endo checks a low kick from Cruz.
Endo fails with the takedown

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Endo missing with punches from the bottom.
Nate Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Endo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Endo's head.
Endo is trying to stand.
Cruz trying to control the action but Endo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.
Cruz uses his free foot to push down on Endo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Endo.
Cruz landing shots from mount.

Cruz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Endo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Endo and Cruz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cruz working the ground and pound.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Endo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Endo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Endo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Endo is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cruz trying to control the position but Endo is working away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Endo is trying to buck Cruz off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cruz scores with punches from side control.
Cruz has knee on belly and moves into mount.
BOOM! Cruz connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Endo is working to get back to half guard.
Cruz has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Endo's face.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz cracks Endo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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!
Cruz has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Endo's face.
Endo is breathing heavily.
Endo wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Cruz lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Endo.

Cruz is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Endo taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Cruz.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nate Cruz!