PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Istaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Cruz
vs
Istaz

170 cm
27
152 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
27
153 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Raw Edge Gear (R.E.G)
Raw Edge Gear (R.E.G)

Valhalla 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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Istaz!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Istaz looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Istaz tries to score with a low kick but Cruz moves his leg out of the way.
Istaz throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Istaz throws a head kick that half lands.

Cruz clinches up with Istaz and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cruz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Istaz is trying to keep an underhook but Cruz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Istaz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.

Istaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istaz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.

Istaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
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 Istaz's temple.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Cruz misses with a head shot. Istaz uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Istaz is keeping the position.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz is in close to Istaz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz postures up in Istaz's guard and throws a big left but Istaz blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Istaz is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Istaz keeps moving.
Istaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Istaz moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Cruz.

Istaz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Istaz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Istaz off and has taken his back!
Cruz trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Cruz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Cruz biding his time, controlling Istaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an elbow to the head.
Cruz has the hooks in. Istaz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
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.
Cruz lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Cruz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz is controlling the position but Istaz somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Istaz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Istaz keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Istaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cruz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Istaz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cruz, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Istaz scoring well with a low kick there.
Istaz takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Cruz tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Istaz misses with a head kick.
Istaz throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Istaz.
Istaz scores with a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Istaz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Istaz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Istaz throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Istaz!
Istaz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cruz back to the cage. Istaz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Istaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Istaz throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Karl Istaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Istaz digs a good hook to Cruz's body.
Cruz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Istaz.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Istaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Istaz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Istaz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Istaz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Istaz.
Cruz swings for the body but Istaz moves out of range.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Istaz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Istaz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Karl Istaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Istaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Istaz throws a nice head kick!

Cruz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Istaz is breathing heavily.
Cruz cracks Istaz with a solid left hand.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Istaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cruz wants to control but Istaz is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cruz scores with a couple of short elbows.

Cruz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Istaz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Karl Istaz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cruz scores with a body shot.
Donk. Cruz catches Istaz right on the button with a cross.
Istaz throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Cruz instigates a clinch.
Istaz is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cruz has Istaz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Istaz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Istaz is trying to break the clinch but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz prevents Istaz from breaking the clinch.
Istaz is looking to break free of the clinch but Cruz has double underhooks.

Istaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Istaz throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Istaz misses with a body shot
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Istaz scoring well with a low kick there.
Istaz scores with a leg kick.
Istaz lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Istaz throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Istaz cracks the inside of Cruz's front leg.
Istaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Karl Istaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Istaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Istaz is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but Istaz defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Istaz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Istaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz wants to work for an arm triangle but Istaz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Istaz trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz trying to control the action but Istaz is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Istaz gets back to full guard.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Istaz keeps moving.
Istaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Istaz keeps moving.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Cruz!
Nate Cruz made sure to mention his sponsor, Raw Edge Gear (R.E.G) in his post fight interview.