PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damien Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanton Friedmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by no shelter/ RAM. Friedmon has chosen Come Get on the Ho Train as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Friedmon

179 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
33
166 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damien Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stanton Friedmon!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friedmon lands a really nice looking cross but Cruz seems unphased.

Friedmon 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.
Friedmon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Friedmon is aware though and is defending well.
Friedmon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Friedmon stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Cruz has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Friedmon is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cruz.
Friedmon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Friedmon scores with punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Friedmon wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Friedmon in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Friedmon's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedmon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cruz!
Friedmon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cruz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Friedmon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Friedmon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Friedmon.

Friedmon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Friedmon sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Friedmon is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz taking some punishment here, with Friedmon in his half guard.
Friedmon is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Friedmon is nestled in close to Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Friedmon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Friedmon is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Friedmon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz moves into full guard.

Friedmon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Friedmon has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Friedmon 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Friedmon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Friedmon has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Friedmon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Friedmon stands and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Friedmon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friedmon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Friedmon wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Friedmon controls the position.
Friedmon trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Friedmon happy to just control the position for now.
Friedmon trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Friedmon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cruz gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Friedmon raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Friedmon controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanton Friedmon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Friedmon darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Friedmon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Friedmon trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Friedmon passes to side control.
Friedmon grinds an elbow into Cruz's temple.
Friedmon lands some shots froms side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Friedmon trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Friedmon's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Friedmon landing strikes.
Friedmon working the ground and pound.
Friedmon working the head with strikes.
Cruz regains half guard.

Friedmon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cruz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Friedmon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Friedmon's back!
Friedmon really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Cruz's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.

Cruz is looking for a choke. Friedmon gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Friedmon manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Friedmon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Friedmon content to stall in guard here.

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

Friedmon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Friedmon is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Friedmon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Friedmon advances nicely into full mount.
Friedmon controlling from mount.
Friedmon breaks from Cruz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Friedmon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cruz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cruz regains half guard.
Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Friedmon not doing much here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Friedmon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes 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. Friedmon connects with a nice short shot to Cruz's temple.
Friedmon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

Friedmon seems to be looking for submissions.

Friedmon moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Cruz.
Friedmon passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Cruz!
Friedmon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Friedmon looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Friedmon landing strikes from the mount and Cruz is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanton Friedmon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Friedmon staying out of range there.
Cruz thuds his right hand into Friedmon's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Friedmon has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Friedmon throws a knee to the head but misses.

Friedmon manages to break the clinch.
Stanton Friedmon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz tries to sprawl but Friedmon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Friedmon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Friedmon lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz wants to control the action here but instead Friedmon manages to pass to full mount!
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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!
Friedmon looking to control and managing it successfully.
Friedmon lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedmon controlling the position easily from mount.
Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stanton Friedmon has got the better of the ground game so far.

Friedmon is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cruz has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Friedmon scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cruz has a hand on Friedmon's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Friedmon takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Friedmon breaks from Cruz's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedmon lands a big elbow.
Friedmon landing strikes from the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friedmon fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Cruz is rocked!

Friedmon throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Cruz has his hands clasped together but Friedmon breaks the hold and Cruz is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Friedmon!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stanton Friedmon!
Stanton Friedmon bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.