PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Blahyi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abel Cruz Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blahyi comes into the arena with All Hail Liberia Hail !!!! blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blahyi
vs
Cruz Jr

173 cm
31
153 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

172 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Viral Fightwear

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joshua Blahyi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abel Cruz Jr!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz Jr misses with a leg kick

and Blahyi counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz Jr didn't expect that.
Cruz Jr is trying to keep Blahyi in close.
Blahyi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blahyi defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blahyi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz Jr, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blahyi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz Jr's guard.

Blahyi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz Jr defends it well.

Cruz Jr looking for submissions off his back.

Cruz Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Blahyi seems content to control.

That's two 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.

Blahyi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cruz Jr won't allow Blahyi to pass to mount.
Blahyi is looking to take a break and control but Cruz Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blahyi wants to pass to mount but Cruz Jr is defending the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blahyi wants to take a breather but Cruz Jr is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blahyi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr throws a leg kick

and Blahyi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cruz Jr's guard.

Blahyi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blahyi has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz Jr's legs - danger averted.
Blahyi trying to control but Cruz Jr is working from the bottom.
Blahyi passes Cruz Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Blahyi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blahyi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz Jr has managed to free his arm - good work.
Blahyi is pressing down on Cruz Jr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruz Jr is holding on for now.
Blahyi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Blahyi is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cruz Jr reverses the position - he's now on top in Blahyi's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Blahyi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blahyi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Blahyi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cruz Jr looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz Jr is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Blahyi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz Jr is trying to keep Blahyi in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz Jr keeping full guard, as Blahyi tries to pass.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cruz Jr trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz Jr throws a right and a left that Blahyi avoids nicely.
Blahyi attempts a counter takedown but Cruz Jr avoids it well and moves away.
Blahyi staying out of range there.
Cruz Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Blahyi. Blahyi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruz Jr misses with a low kick as Blahyi jumps back.
Blahyi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Blahyi is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Abel Cruz Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz Jr lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blahyi at a distance.
Cruz Jr takes a swing at Blahyi's ribcage but misses.
Blahyi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz Jr.
Cruz Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Blahyi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz Jr throws out a loose jab but Blahyi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blahyi feinted with a counter takedown.
Cruz Jr connects with a good right hand that stumbles Blahyi. Blahyi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr scores with a punch to the head.
Cruz Jr cracks Blahyi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cruz Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Blahyi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cruz Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blahyi was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz Jr.
Cruz Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Blahyi attempts a counter takedown but Cruz Jr avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blahyi dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz Jr sizes up Blahyi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blahyi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Blahyi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz Jr. Blahyi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blahyi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cruz Jr throws a left and a right that both miss

and Blahyi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Joshua Blahyi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blahyi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blahyi wants to control the pace but Cruz Jr is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Cruz Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cruz Jr swings for the body but Blahyi moves out of range.
A low kick from Cruz Jr is predictable there

and Blahyi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cruz Jr's guard.

Cruz Jr looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Blahyi has picked Cruz Jr up and slammed him! Cruz Jr can't keep hold of the triangle and Blahyi manages to pass to side control!
Cruz Jr is looking to reverse the position.

Blahyi tries for a kimura but Cruz Jr is defending well.
Blahyi has knee on belly momentarily but Cruz Jr bucks him off and regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blahyi is looking to take a break and control but Cruz Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blahyi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Blahyi passes to side control.
Cruz Jr regains half guard.

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.
Blahyi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz Jr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Blahyi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cruz Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blahyi trying to control from Cruz Jr's half guard. Cruz Jr has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Blahyi trying to control but Cruz Jr is working from the bottom.
Cruz Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr wants to stand up but Blahyi is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz Jr digs a good hook to Blahyi's body.
Cruz Jr misses the shot to the body.
Cruz Jr jabs Blahyi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cruz Jr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blahyi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Blahyi or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz Jr, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr swings for the body but Blahyi moves out of range.
Blahyi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls and moves away.
Cruz Jr throws a poor cross that misses

and Blahyi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blahyi.
Cruz Jr scores a nice knee to the body.
Blahyi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Blahyi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blahyi pulls guard successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz Jr content to stall in guard here.

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 Joshua Blahyi.
I think Blahyi 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Blahyi!
A very excited looking Joshua Blahyi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.