PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luciano Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cruz's choice of entrance music: Smack That. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Riley
vs
Cruz

188 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Elite Canadian Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luciano Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Riley takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.

Riley scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Riley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Riley landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riley staying calm.
Cruz is not content to let Riley control the position.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Riley control the position.
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet.
Riley is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riley landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.
Riley is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Cruz tries to kick Riley off but Riley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cruz is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Riley wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.
Riley prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley is taking a breather. Cruz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cruz is looking to escape.
Riley prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Riley sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ethan Riley.
Cruz leaves Riley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Riley manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cruz on his heels. He'll look to pass Cruz's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Riley is having none of it.
Cruz looks winded!
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Riley lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Riley preventing the sweep.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cruz working for a triangle but Riley defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Riley stands and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Riley scoring with punches and elbows.
Riley trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Riley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz is trying to control Riley's posture but Riley avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Riley 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 dives in for a single leg takedown but Riley sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Riley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cruz down to the mat. Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Riley moves into the clinch.
Riley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cruz works over Riley's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Ethan Riley has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Riley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Riley goes for a double leg but Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cruz continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Riley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riley's guard.
Riley wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cruz manages to pass to side control.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Riley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz wants to stand but Riley has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Cruz is keen to just control but Riley is a slippery customer.

Riley kicks off Cruz and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Riley sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz tries to circle away but Riley has him pinned against the cage.
Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Riley is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cruz pulls guard successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Riley advances position into side control!
Riley taking a breather here.
Ethan Riley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riley prevents Cruz from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley working the head and body with strikes.

Riley thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Riley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz pushes Riley away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Riley gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Riley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Riley controls the position.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Riley off and has taken his back!

Riley manages to stand up with Cruz still on his back. Eventually Cruz drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Riley shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Riley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Riley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.

Riley darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Riley works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luciano Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ethan Riley's cut.
That's time! Riley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Riley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Riley persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Riley or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz which made him look bad.
Ethan Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Cruz clinches up with Riley and pushes him back against the cage.
Riley can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz lands with a light punch inside.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cruz is fighting off a takedown attempt but Riley is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cruz to the mat. Cruz regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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 manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley trying desperately to get to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Cruz.
Riley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz lands a couple of good shots and Riley has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Riley covers up after that shot from Cruz.
Cruz scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Riley is looking for a way out.
Riley looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley is trapped and Cruz is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Riley is taking damage to the body and head.
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 struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cruz lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Cruz has managed to slip his arm under Riley's chin. This could be all over... yep, Riley is tapping out! Submission win for Cruz.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Luciano Cruz!
A relieved looking Luciano Cruz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.