PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jay Smith (ranked 1252 p4p, 137 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 876 p4p, 105 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Cruz

167 cm
25
153 lbs
12 - 9 - 1

172 cm
24
144 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jay Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz lands a front kick.
Smith stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith with a poor takedown
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Cruz's corner calls for a 1-2. Cruz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cruz tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Cruz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cruz takes one on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith checks a low kick from Cruz.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Cruz pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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!
Smith is looking to improve his position.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith is in trouble now - Cruz has advanced to mount!
Smith is in a horrible position here. Cruz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Cruz.
Cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.

Smith is rocked!
Cruz landing shots from mount.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a big shot to the head and Smith winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Dom Cruz!
An intense looking Dom Cruz took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Ive said it over and over. No one can match my training, my speed, my intelligence. I won this fight before I stepped into the ring.'.