PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dom Cruz (ranked 851 p4p, 29 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 1343 p4p, 50 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cruz
vs
Festation

172 cm
28
144 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

166 cm
31
140 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

CAGED CROW Clothings 50$

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Festation swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Cruz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cruz lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Festation wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Festation works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Festation is retaining full guard.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Festation.
Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Festation blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Festation keeps moving.
Cruz stands up over Festation, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Festation keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Festation avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Festation.
Festation is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
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.
Festation keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz cracks Festation with a solid left hand.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
Festation keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Festation wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Festation keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Festation controlling Cruz's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Festation is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Festation managing to control the position.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Festation has Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Festation told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Cruz landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Festation is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Festation is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Festation is keeping the position for now.
Festation looking for a sweep. Not yet Festation, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Festation is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Festation is pulling down on Cruz's head to control his posture.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Festation swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Festation keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Festation controlling the position.
Cruz won't allow Festation to sweep him here.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Festation looking for a sweep. Not yet Festation, not yet.
Festation seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Festation pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Cruz cracks Festation with a solid left hand.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Festation controlling the position.
Festation controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Festation wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Festation's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Festation looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Festation defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Festation into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Festation is looking for the big counter here.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Festation moves away.

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.

Festation kicks Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
Cruz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Festation counters with a two punch combo.
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 misses with a few strikes there.
Festation swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Festation avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a head kick but Festation moves out of range.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Festation doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz scores with a takedown into Festation's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Festation really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Festation is controlling Cruz's posture.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Festation has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Cruz won't allow Festation to sweep him here.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Festation is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Festation is keeping the position.
Festation has control of Cruz's left arm, preventing Cruz from doing any damage.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Festation wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Festation keeps moving.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Festation wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Festation trying to control the position.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Festation works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working Festation over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cruz prevents Festation from getting back to his feet.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Festation keeps moving.
Festation has control of Cruz's left arm, preventing Cruz from doing any damage.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz is in close to Festation's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Festation not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Festation preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Festation keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz stands up over Festation, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Festation has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Festation is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Festation 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.
Dom Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Festation working a defensive guard here.
Cruz stands up over Festation, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cruz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Festation looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Festation is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Cruz dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Festation dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Festation is looking for the big counter here.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Festation stuffs the takedown.
Festation swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Festation avoids a kick to the body.
Festation is trying to counter with his kicks.
Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Festation back to the cage. Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Festation sprawls well. Festation wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz scores with a sloppy right hand. Festation should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Festation is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dom Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Festation. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Festation is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cruz.
Festation stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Festation doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Festation slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Festation shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Festation tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Festation to the ground. Festation escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Mana Festation has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dom Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dom Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
Festation takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Festation can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Festation's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nice cross by Cruz.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Festation tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Festation to the ground. Festation escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Festation avoids them all with ease.
Festation looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Festation tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Festation to the ground. Festation escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Festation throws a counter combo.
Nice takedown defense from Festation. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
Festation lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Festation counters with a body kick that stops Cruz in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Festation defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom Cruz!
Dom Cruz took some time post fight to say the following; '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.'.