PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Glass (ranked 3189 p4p, 2992 weight class) and Michael Cruz (ranked 405 p4p, 380 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Glass
vs
Cruz

191 cm
44
185
44 - 24 - 2

180 cm
30
185
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Good chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 44 - 24 - 2, fighting out of London, Desmond Glass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, John Mangel and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Glass.
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.

It looks like Desmond Glass has been cut.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Desmond Glass seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz drives through and clinches with Glass against the cage.
Cruz is trying to drag Glass to the mat but Glass just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cruz is pushing Glass up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from Cruz fails to land.
Glass can't find room to land a body shot as Cruz controls the action.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Glass prevents it.
Cruz cracks Glass with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Glass misses with a hook from the clinch.

Cruz has clasped his hands together around Glass's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Glass wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is dominant here and he's now got Glass's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Glass is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz lands shots from the back.
Glass wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz scores with punches to the body.
Glass is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Glass knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Cruz thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Cruz loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Glass hold on?
Glass trying to get back to his feet but Cruz is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz looking to break Glass's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Glass remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cruz will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
A lull in the action here.
Glass avoids the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz missing with strikes.

Cruz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Glass defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Glass is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Cruz misses with an elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Glass is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Glass is out of range.
A jab from Glass finds it's way through Cruz's defenses.
Glass lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Glass.
Glass pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz misses the jab.
Glass rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Glass throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz tries to counter with a clinch but Glass shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Glass misses the target.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Glass, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Glass is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Glass throws a head punch that misses.
Cruz lands with a light punch inside.

Cruz jumps into guard, dragging Glass to the mat.
Cruz looking to control.
Glass won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Glass can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cruz will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Glass takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Glass wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Desmond Glass's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Glass circles away quickly and effectively.
Glass misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Glass tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cruz rushes Glass and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cruz.
Cruz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Glass blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice body punch from Glass.

Cruz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz controls Glass momentarily but Glass frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz has his foot on Glass's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Glass works his way back into a safe position though.
Cruz striking off his back but it's not causing Glass any problems.

Glass decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cruz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Glass blocking some punches.
Cruz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Glass pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cruz lands a slapping body shot.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cruz darts in and clinches Glass up against the cage.
Cruz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Glass backwards.
Glass goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Glass goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Glass prevents it.
Desmond Glass has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cruz.
Glass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Glass misses with a body punch.
Glass has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working for takedown but Glass is calmly controlling the position for now.
Glass takes a shot to the head.
Glass prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Glass tries a body shot but Cruz blocks it.
Glass misses with a body punch.
Glass lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Michael Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Glass avoids a wild elbow strike from Cruz.
Glass scores a nice knee to the body.
Cruz lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Glass misses with a punch to the body.

Cruz decides to pull guard.
Glass trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cruz's guard.
Cruz trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Glass has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
Cruz striking off his back but it's not causing Glass any problems.
Glass is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
Cruz working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Glass wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cruz darts in and clinches Glass up against the cage.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.

Cruz gets control of Glass's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cruz has his foot on Glass's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Glass works his way back into a safe position though.
Glass wants to get up but he can't break Cruz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Glass gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Glass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Glass.
Cruz dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Glass. That did some damage!
Glass misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Glass on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cruz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Glass was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Cruz darts in and clinches Glass up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Glass.
Glass misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Desmond Glass's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Glass scores with a sloppy right hand. Cruz should have avoided that one.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Glass bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Glass slips the punch.
A head kick misses from Glass.
Glass moves away from the strike by Cruz.
Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice cross by Glass.
Glass is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into Glass's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cruz passes Glass's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Glass is trying to stand.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Glass blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.

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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 Glass's temple.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.

Glass is rocked!

Desmond Glass's cut is getting worse.
Glass blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Glass avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Glass is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Michael Cruz!
An out of breath Michael Cruz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
In defeat, Desmond Glass stepped up to the mic, saying 'I have to get with my coaches and manager, and rethink my gameplan going forward. I'll be back.'.