Crawford vs. Madrimov Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event

MMA Fighting has Crawford vs. Madrimov results live for the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov fight card at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday night.

When the main event begins around 11 p.m. ET, check out our Crawford vs. Madrimov live round-by-round updates for our live blog of the main event. Crawford is moving up in weight to try to win Madrimov’s WBA super welterweight title.

Check out the Crawford vs. Madrimov results below.

Main card (DAZN, PPV.com)

Terence Crawford def. Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) (live blog) (watch highlights)

Jose Valenzuela def. Isaac Cruz via split decision (116-112, 113-115, 116-112)

Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller ruled a majority draw (116-112 Miller, 114-114, 114-114)

Martin Bakole def. Jared Anderson via fifth-round TKO

David Morrell def. Radivoje Kalajdzic via unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 117-111)

Andy Cruz def. Antonio Moran via seventh-round KO

Prelims

Steve Nelson def. Marcos Ramon Vazquez via fifth-round KO (0:50)

Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Michal Bulik ruled a majority draw (59-55 Almaayouf, 57-57 x2)

Follow Crawford vs. Madrimov undercard live blog below:

Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran

Round 1: What’s up, y’all? We are rolling with this loaded pay-per-view main card. Cruz and Moran kicking us off for the IBF international lightweight title. This is Cruz’s fourth professional fight. Let’s do it. Moran comes out firing jabs to the head and body. Cruz sticks out a long jab onto Moran’s face in response. Cruz claiming the center of the ring early. Cruz connects solidly with a series of straight punches to the body. Three-punch combination for Cruz. He slips a right hand through the guard. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz.

Round 2: Moran backs up Cruz with a flurry early. Moran is trying to bully the Cuban here but Cruz is countering almost everything. Left uppercut just misses for Cruz. Oh, beautiful counter left for Cruz. He slams another left hand into Moran’s jaw. Long one-two finds a home for Cruz, followed by a piston of a straight right. He’s stringing together punches so well right now. Moran tries to flurry to the body but Cruz hangs tough in the pocket, defends it all, then lands back effectively. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz. (20-18 Cruz.)

Round 3: Cruz immediately retakes the center of the ring. He bounces on heels and peppers Moran with a flurry. Technical difficulties take us out for a minute but Cruz continues to work. Beautiful right hand slams into Cruz’s chin. He’s timing Moran perfectly. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz. (30-27 Cruz.)

Round 4: Cruz lunges inside with a combination. Moran fires back with a flurry of his own but Cruz sees every punch coming. Cruz ducks under a straight punch and unloads a stiff uppercut. Oh, nice right hand by Moran. That’s his best punch of the night. Cruz stays on the offensive, pressuring Moran into the corner and winging punches in bunches. The referee stops the action for a moment after a seeming clash of heads. We’re back, and Moran blasts Cruz with a sharp left hook over the top! Cruz is hurt! Moran pursues Cruz across the ring lobbing bombs but Cruz is evading. Wow, hell of an opportunity there for Moran but Cruz survives. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Moran. (39-37 Cruz.)

Round 5: Cruz’s corner is furious with their fighter after that close call. Let’s see if Moran can capitalize. Big counter left connects for Cruz. Moran digs to the body with a flurry. Nice left hand from Moran. Cruz uncorks a massive looping right but misses, and Moran grins. He’s feeling himself now. Moran barrels forward going head-body. Cruz stops him in his tracks with a piston jab. Cruz goes to the body and now he’s on the offensive. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Moran. (48-47 Cruz.)

Round 6: Cruz called his shot pre-fight that he’d stop Moran by the end of Round 6. I don’t think that’s happening, but let’s see. Moran comes out firing. Big swings from Moran, and some of these are getting through. Cruz plays defense and counters to the best of his ability, but we’re in a dog fight now. Moran walks him into the corner and unloads with body and head shots. Some of those landed clean. Cruz resets to the center. They trade stiff jabs and Cruz gets the better of it. Now Cruz is backing up Moran, wading forward and repeatedly popping out his jab. Moran answers with one of his own but Cruz just shakes his head. Fun round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Moran. (57-57 overall.)

Round 7: Moran storms out firing and immediately traps Cruz into the ropes. Cruz’s corner is begging for their fighter to let his hands go. Cruz slams a combination to the body. They trade several jabs. Big jab by Cruz! That was almost a knockdown! It definitely shook Moran up. Another right hand from Cruz. He’s smelling blood now. Moran goes full defense mode. Cruz goes head-body with his jabs, then uncorks a right hand to the temple. Moran ties up. Moran still doesn’t look like he’s recovered. HUGE right hand for Cruz! He swarms and Moran is on Bambi legs! The referee is calling this a knockdown. And that’s it! This one is over. Moran is completely out of sorts. That was beautiful. Tremendous win for Cruz and he had to battle through some adversity to get it. Awesome performance.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Andy Cruz def. Antonio Moran via seventh-round knockout

David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic

Round 1: This one is for Morrell’s WBA regular super middleweight title. Kalajdzic claims the center of the right early. Morrell paws out a few jabs to measure distance, Kalajdzic does the same. Morrell connects first with a left hand. Morrell walks Kalajdzic into the ropes and explodes into a combination. Morrell dances on his heels and ducks under a left hand. Short right hand finds a home for Morrell. Very much a feeling out round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell.

Round 2: Morrell’s corner urges him to push the fight. They don’t want him waiting as long as he was early. Morrell unloads a two-punch combination to the body. Short right hand by Morrell from inside the pocket. He digs another left hand into the body. Right hand over the top for him, followed by a straight shot that slips through the guard. Morrell blows a kiss to the crowd after that one. Morrell closes the distance and lands a series of inside blows. Morrell peppers Kalajdzic with his jab. Ooof, hard body shot. Kalajdzic just can’t get anything going. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (20-18 Morrell.)

Round 3: Some early frustration already starting to be heard from Kalajdzic’s corner. They want him to be more cautious with his entries. Kalajdzic snaps out a few jabs. Morrell walks him into the ropes only to eat another short jab to the jaw. Morrell again pressures Kalajdzic into the corner but he can’t get anything going. Kalajdzic is definitely trying to be busier here, and so far it’s working. Morrell unloads with a big flurry off a clinch. Oh, that caught Kalajdzic’s attention. Morrell is hunting him down now. Big left hand by Morrell! Morrell is swarming. Hell of a close to that round for the Cuban. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (30-27 Morrell.)

Round 4: Kalajdzic comes out firing jabs, trying to get back into this. Morrell tosses out a one-two but Kalajdzic answers with a stiff counter. Kalajdzic paws out his jab then uncorks a right hand. Nice counter left to the temple by Morrell. Kalajdzic whiffs on a combination. Morrell makes him pay, blasting a punch straight into Kalajdzic’s sternum. Nice counter by Kalajdzic after a Morrell entry. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (40-36 Morrell.)

Round 5: Morrell opens aggressively, throwing punches in bunches. Kalajdzic tosses out a few lazy jabs in response. Kalajdzic continues to test his distance with that jab. Morrell flurries and Kalajdzic complains of a back-of-the-head shot, but the referee isn’t buying it. Morrell bulldozes him into the ropes and lets his hands go. Right hands landing with consistency for Morrell. Slick counter right from Kalajdzic. This was Kalajdzic’s best round, but it’s still not enough. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (50-45 Morrell.)

Round 6: Slow start to the round. Both fighters seem to be waiting for the other to go. Morrell stalks him into the corner but can’t get anything going. Kalajdzic again content to back up into the ropes, and Morrell loads up on a left to the body. Repeated one-twos from Kalajdzic. Kalajdzic snaps Morrell’s head back with a jab. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Kalajdzic. (59-55 Morrell.)

Round 7: Kalajdzic takes the center of the ring and immediately has Morrell on his back foot. Total shift in dynamics here. Kalajdzic bounces on his heels and picks his shots. Wicked counter right by Kalajdzic. Morrell snaps out a right hand. Morrell is completely flat-footed right now, he’s barely moving. Kalajdzic darts inside and finds a home for a flurry. Morrell flurries. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Kalajdzic. (68-65 Morrell.)

Round 8: Morrell’s warns their fighter not to get sloppy. Kalajdzic is by far the busier mover right now, he’s walking circles around the stationary Morrell. Oh, there’s a big right hook by Morrell! Kalajdzic staggers backward into the ropes! Morrell takes his time with the follow-up — and he’s probably too patient, Kalajdzic seems to have regained his wits. Kalajdzic smacks Morrell with a counter right hand. Another from Kalajdzic. Morrell scoots inside then whiffs with a lunging hook. They trade to the bell. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (78-74 Morrell.)

Round 9: They take turns trading jabs and one-twos for the first minute, neither landing flush. Right hand by Morrell sends Kalajdzic back into the corner. Kalajdzic goes back to his jab. Lazy one-two by Kalajdzic followed by a nice upppercut, and another. Morrell throws heavy into a lunging right hand that briefly lifts Kalajdzic off the mat. Kalajdzic blocked it but that was close. Very slow round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Kalajdzic. (87-84 Morrell.)

Round 10: Morrell’s corner is furious with their fighter for giving away that round. They totally got in his face. They’re practically begging for him to start opening up with his hands. Let’s see if he listens. Morrell wades into the clinch and misses with a looping hook. Kalajdzic circles. Morrell doubles up on his jab. Kalajdzic dives inside with a one-two. Morrell stalks him into the ropes but can’t connect. Right hand finds it mark for Kalajdzic. Six-punch combination connects for Kalajdzic. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Kalajdzic. (96-94 Morrell.)

Round 11: Let’s just say this one is not a barnburner. Kalajdzic snaps a jab into Morrell’s grill. Morrell lunges forward and snaps Kalajdzic’s head back with a looping right. Big uppercut followed by a straight left for Morrell. He pressures Kalajdzic into the ropes but can’t get any offense going. Snappy one-two from Kalajdzic. Monster right hand from Kalajdzic slams into Morrell’s head! And another! Morrell ate those well but those were good shots. Morrell pressures him into the corner and tries to flurry but Kalajdzic defends well. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Kalajdzic. (105-104 Morrell.)

Round 12: Oh man. Scorecards could be all over the place here. Very decent chance the result is hanging in the balance in these last three minutes. Morrell paws out his jab, then smacks Kalajdzic with a straight shot. Another hard flurry lands for Morrell. Kalajdzic stalking forward now, trying to get Morrell on his back foot. Three-punch combination for Kalajdzic, and he smiles after that one. Kalajdzic goes head-body but one of them was low. Morrell doesn’t want to take a break. Oh, nice body shot by Morrell. No wonder he didn’t want a time out. Morrell is by far the more urgent fighter in this final sprint to the finish. Morrell flurries. This one is over. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Morrell. (115-113 Morrell.)

OFFICIAL RESULT: David Morrell def. Radivoje Kalajdzic via unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 117-111)

Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole

Round 1: Here we go. Big-time stakes here for Anderson, who’s being touted as the future of American heavyweight boxing. Tonight is by far his toughest test. This is for the WBO international heavyweight title. They touch ‘em up and we’re off. Bakole comes out swinging. He’s so much larger than Anderson. Anderson pumps out his jab. Bakole looks like he’s giving Anderson no respect. Bakole staying stationary while planting his feet and loading up. Anderson punches repeatedly to the body. Two-punch combination lands upstairs for Anderson. To call Bakole a stationary target would be an understatement. So far Anderson is dancing around him and continually working the body. Huge left hook followed by a right uppercut for Bakole! He swarms him and down goes Anderson!!! WOW! That gigantic man was just timing his shot the entire time — and BAM, he landed it at the bell. Anderson is back up, but that was rough. MMA Fighting scores it 10-8 Bakole.

Round 2: Bakole immediately bulldozes forward throwing heavy volume. Anderson weathers it and tries to fire back. Bakole still stalking forward and he nearly took Anderson’s head off with another right uppercut. Anderson eats a two-punch combination. He’s stuck on the ropes right now and that’s a bad spot to be against such a titanic man. Left hand finds a home for Bakole. Anderson smacks him with a left of his own. Right hand for Anderson. He’s still on his back foot so there’s not a lot on some of these shots. Bakole throws a monster uppercut that just misses. Anderson answers with one of his own. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Anderson. (19-18 Bakole.)

Round 3: Nasty left by Bakole completely takes Anderson’s head off the center line. Anderson lands a sneaky body shot but Bakole walks through it like it’s nothing. And another. Anderson doubles up on his right hand. Stiff left by Anderson. Bakole continues to plod forward. This is tremendous theater. Hard body shot by Anderson — and these have to be adding up. More body work by Anderson. Bakole connects with a right uppercut! Bakole slugging it out along the ropes! Anderson slams a four-punch combination into Bakole’s mug. Huge flurry by Anderson! Oh my lord. What a round. Anderson edges it with volume and his body work. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Anderson. (28-28 overall.)

Round 4: They meet in the center and immediately pick up where they left off. Anderson goes back downstairs with a left. He’s committed to this strategy and it might start paying dividends. Nice left to the head by Anderson. Bakole snaps back Anderson’s head with a volley of right hands! Anderson tries to fire back by Bakole is firing on all cylinders now. Leaping left from Bakole. Bakole doubles up his jab. Anderson allows himself to get walked into the ropes and Bakole starts teeing off. Anderson clinches. Shovel hook by Bakole. They land simultaneous right hands. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Bakole. (38-37 Bakole.)

Round 5: Slick one-two from Anderson snaps Bakole’s head back. Left from Anderson. Bakole slams a left hand into Anderson’s body. Lazy flurry by Bakole along the ropes — and WOW, down goes Anderson again! That was thrown in slow motion! Anderson climbs back to his feet and we restart. But Bakole swarms and immediately knocks him down again with a pair of right hands! Nasty knockdown on that one. This is crazy. Anderson answers the call once more but Bakole is on him immediately! Huge punches in bunches for Bakole! That’s it — the referee stops it! This one is over! What a wild fight. Massive statement by Bakole.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Martin Bakole def. Jared Anderson via fifth-round TKO

Andy Ruiz vs. Jerrell Miller

Round 1: We roll on with the heavyweights. This is Ruiz’s first fight in nearly 23 months, the longest layoff of the former champ’s career. Referee Thomas Taylor is the third man in the ring. Ruiz is the clear hometown favorite with this Los Angeles crowd. Ruiz immediately jabs to the body. Very tentative first minute from both men. Lots of feeling out and distance measurement going on right now. Miller repeatedly paws out his left hand. Ruiz tosses out an overhand right but doesn’t commit. Miller unloads with a few hooks. Ruiz answers with some heavy hooks of his own! Nice shots there and that probably stole the round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 2: Ruiz loads up on a looping left hook. Another left hand smacks Miller straight in the nose. Ruiz jabs to the body. Miller starts walking him down but can’t land clean. Ruiz goes back to his heavy hooks. Miller digs a left hand into the body. Right hand connects clean for Miller! Followed by an uppercut. Ruiz eats it and keeps on coming. Ruiz slams a three-punch combination into Miller’s skull. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Ruiz. (20-18 Ruiz.)

Round 3: Miller’s corner wants him to stop the head-hunting and instead focus on Ruiz’s body. Miller stalks Ruiz across the ring and whiffs on a combination. Right hand lands over the top for Ruiz. Ruiz perfectly times a pair of right hands to the head and body, but Miller just eats it and fires back with authority. Miller digs another right hand into the body. And another, followed by a little dirty boxing uppercut. He’s listening to his corner. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Ruiz. (30-27 Ruiz.)

Round 4: Miller immediately takes the center of the ring and resumes walking Ruiz down. Miler jabs his way inside then smacks Ruiz with an uppercut. Heavy hooks from Miller. He pressures Ruiz into the corner and flurries. Miller continues to walk him down, but Ruiz escapes for a moment and bashes a right hand into Miller’s head. Miller goes to the body. Miller again flurries in the corner. That was his most successful round. Not enough. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Ruiz. (40-36 Ruiz.)

Round 5: They clinch up and Miller slams a few short hooks into Ruiz. Miller trying to work as much as possible from inside this phone booth. He’s making this a grimy fight and it’s a successful strategy so far. Three-punch combination for Ruiz, but Miller answers with a standing elbow. That was definitely illegal. Referee missed it. Miller unloads with a series of body shots and that seems to have hurt Ruiz. Ruiz playing defense now. Miller pushes him away and shakes his head. Another body shot from Miller. More dirty boxing from Miller. Miller sits down on his shots and unloads a massive flurry. There’s the bell. Oh man, Ruiz may have been hurt from that. Big momentum swing here. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (49-46 Ruiz.)

Round 6: Ruiz looks like a man who’s fading fast. He tries to rally with a heavy combination but Miller blocks it all. Miller isn’t giving Ruiz an inch to breathe here. Miller is stalking this man, winging looping hooks and short punches. Three-punch combination against the ropes for Miller. He’s relentless. Ruiz tries to get something going but there’s not much on his punches right now. Miller paws out his left hand to measure his distance then clubs Ruiz to the body and head. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (58-56 Ruiz.)

Round 7: This is absolutely an even fight at the halfway mark and Miller has the momentum in a stranglehold. We’re right back to phone booth fighting and Miller isn’t giving this man an inch. Ruiz eats a clubbing right hand. Ruiz keeps trying to clinch but Miller isn’t letting him. Miller pressures Ruiz into the corner and goes to work. Miller unleashes a long flurry to the head and body, and Ruiz pretty much eats it all. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (67-66 Ruiz.)

Round 8: Miller once again immediately puts Ruiz on the back foot. His workrate just continues to overwhelm Ruiz right now. Ruiz sticking to single shots while Miller is throwing in combinations. Miller plods forward and slams a heavy jab in Ruiz’s face. Ruiz allows himself to get stuck in the corner. Now Miller’s activity has slowed as well. Miller doubles up on his jab then goes to the body. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (76-76 overall.)

Round 9: If Ruiz is going to turn this around, he needs to start now. Ruiz once again immediately fighting off his back foot. Miller sticks a right hand in his face. Ruiz answers with a hard right hand to the temple. Miller goes to the body. Another flurry to the midsection for Miller. Ruiz answers with a flurry. Miller trudges forward and pressures Ruiz against the ropes while throwing short shots. Uppercut by Miller followed by a left cross. He’s letting his hands go in the corner. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (86-85 Miller.)

Round 10: Ruiz counters with a stiff right hand off his back foot. That was a nice shot. Miller responds with a combination of his own. Now they’re throwing. Things are finally heating up. Miller bulldozes inside and jabs to the head and body. Miller repeatedly going back to the same playbook, walking Ruiz down and going to work inside the pocket. Ruiz tries to flurry but Miller tells him “No, no, no.” Miller slams another short combo inside. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (96-94 Miller.)

Round 11: Ruiz tags Miller with a few looping hooks but Miller responds in kind. Miller still walking him down, refusing to give Ruiz an inch. Both men go to the body in the clinch. Miller sticks a stiff jab in Ruiz’s face. More inside fighting for both and Miller gets the best of it. Ruiz eats a stiff jab off the break. Miller flurries to the body against the ropes. Good right hand by Ruiz but Miller just walks through it. Oh, another solid right hand by Ruiz, and that was probably his best punch of the past several rounds. Miller continues to work though. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (106-103 Miller.)

Round 12: Both men look pretty exhausted and scorecards could be all over the place. Very real chance the winner of this round wins the fight considering how close some of these rounds have been. They slug it out with heavy shots! They’re in the center of the ring trading. Big punches from Ruiz but Miller just eats them. Miller closes the distance and digs into a series of hard body shots. Left hand by Miller. Ruiz sticks a jab in his face. Miller is now back to walking Ruiz down and landing short punches. Final stretch here. Miler lets his hands go with a labored flurry. Grueling fight for these big men. Ruiz doesn’t look happy. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Miller. (116-112 Miller.)

Post-fight Ruiz shows off a grisly injury on his right hand. That thing is very, very broken. He says he hurt it in the fifth round.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller ruled a majority draw (116-112, 114-114, 114-114)

Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela

Round 1: OK, this should be a good one. Cruz’s WBA super lightweight title is on the line. This is his first defense after capturing the belt in March. Massive swell of applause for Cruz from this Los Angeles crowd. They touch ‘em up and we’re off. Cruz immediately pressures Valenzuela into the corner and starts throwing bombs. Valenzuela hangs back and fires off a couple counters. Cruz bulldozes inside and lobs heavy hooks. Valenzuela dances away and peppers him with straight punches. Valenzuela jabs to the body. Nice check hook counter from Valenzuela. Cruz is smothering with his pressure. Valenzuela gets a warning after a questionable body shot. Fun round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz.

Round 2: Cruz bullies his way inside and slams a left hand into Valenzuela’s chin. Valenzuela cinches and they reset in the center of the ring. Cruz continues to bully him as Valenzuela pops out his long jab. Big counter overhand left by Cruz after a Valenzuela uppercut. Nice right by Cruz, who then goes head-body. Valenzuela fires back with short shots inside. Valenzuela ducks under stiff shot and resets. Cruz flurries along the ropes but Valenzuela rolls with most of them. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz. (20-18 Cruz.)

Round 3: Valenzuela gets busy with one-twos. Cruz is a bulldog in here though — he continues to march forward with reckless abandon. Valenzuela connects with a three-punch combo only to eat a hard counter by Cruz. Body shot by Cruz. Valenzuela flurries then fires off a left uppercut to the midsection. Cruz eats a right hand. And another. Valenzuela is finding his mark now. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (29-28 Cruz.)

Round 4: Valenzuela found his rhythm in that third round. Let’s see if he can keep that up against the relentless pressure Cruz is going to bring. Cruz already coming out firing, but Valenzuela sticks his long jab out there to keep him at bay. Cruz bullies Valenzuela into the ropes then unloads a one-two. Hard counter connects for Cruz. Valenzuela finds himself backed into the ropes again as Cruz unloads with a right hand over the top. Valenzuela peppers him with quick straight punches. Cruz flurries to the body then misses up top. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz. (39-37 Cruz.)

Round 5: Cruz goes right back on the offensive, stalking Valenzuela with looping hooks but nothing is landing clean. Cruz winds up and misses a right hand. Valenzuela keeps his distance and pops out his jab. Valenzuela allows himself to get pressured against the ropes but defends everything the champ throws at him. Cruz bulldogs inside and connects with a left. Valenzuela with a stiff one-two. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (48-47 Cruz.)

Round 6: This is a wildly entertaining chess match right now. Cruz’s corner is imploring him to not get desperate. Valenzuela gets back to pawing out his jab. Cruz connects with a right. Valenzuela circles and jabs. Cruz storms forward with a flurry but can’t land clean. Swooping check hook by Valenzuela. He’s starting to use Cruz’s pressure against him here. Big uppercut by Valenzuela, but Cruz answers with a right hand. How on earth did he recover from that so quickly? Now Valenzuela is the one marching forward — and just as I write that, Cruz storms forward with a looping combination. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (57-57 overall.)

Round 7: Valenzuela picks back up where he left off. He’s backing Cruz up and pawing out a long jab. Cruz lunges inside but Valenzuela escapes and resets. Valenzuela peppers out several straight punches then blasts Cruz with an uppercut. Again, the champ just eats it. Cruz flurries with looping hooks. Cruz bullies Valenzuela into the corner and goes to work with short punches. Nice counter right from Valenzuela. And more and more. Really slick sequence from the challenger to end the round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (67-66 Valenzuela.)

Round 8: Cruz bullies his way inside past a series of long jabs and crosses by Valenzuela. Cruz wings a right hand but Valenzuela rolls with it. Nasty uppercut to the body by Valenzuela, and that one seemingly lifted Cruz off his feet. Slick combination by Valenzuela. He’s bullying the bully right now. Valenzuela walks him down and flurries. Cruz throws everything into a looping overhand right but again Valenzuela just rolls with it. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (77-75 Valenzuela.)

Round 9: Cruz is struggling to adjust his game plan here. He needs to either dial up his aggression to 11 or switch things up. Bang, nasty left hand connects for Cruz. Valenzuela darts inside with a jab. More pawing jabs and crosses from Valenzuela, and Cruz just accepts it. Uppercut from Valenzuela. Three-punch combination from Valenzuela. Oh, gorgeous defense by Valenzuela followed by a counter flurry. He’s boxing beautifully. OUCH. Monster low blow by Cruz and that one clearly hurt Valenzuela. This referee is trying to convince Valenzuela that it didn’t hurt much because he has a cup. OK then. Valenzuela is ready and he goes straight back to the jab. Cruz winds up and misses with an uppercut. Slick combination from inside the pocket for Valenzuela. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (87-84 Valenzuela.)

Round 10: Valenzuela already throwing punches in bunches again, leading with his jab. Valenzuela is finding his target anytime he wants to seemingly. Valenzuela goes hard to the head with a pair of hooks. Cruz ties up and resets. Valenzuela has Cruz completely fighting off his back foot at this point, this is wild. Valenzuela slips a looping right hand. Oh, nice counter left from Cruz. Valenzuela rolled with that shot a bit but it was still Cruz’s best punch in awhile. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (97-93 Valenzuela.)

Round 11: Valenzuela’s corner tells their fighter he’s two rounds away from being a world champion. I agree. This is beautiful work so far from the challenger. Valenzuela slips an uppercut through Cruz’s guard. Valenzuela goes body-head then blocks an overhand right. Left uppercut lands again for Valenzuela. Valenzuela is keeping this fight completely at the distance he wants. Ooof, monster uppercut to the body by Valenzuela. Cruz continues to allow himself to be on the back foot. Short right hand by Valenzuela. Cruz counters with a long right. Cruz swarms with a big flurry! Oh, he catches Valenzuela clean with an overhand right! Big shots! The champ might’ve stolen that round at the bell. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Cruz. (106-103 Valenzuela.)

Round 12: Valenzuela’s corner continues to implore their fighter to fight smart after that late rally by Cruz. Cruz tries to bulldoze inside and unload. Oh, massive right hand blasts Valenzuela! Cruz traps him against the ropes and blasts him again. Another right connects for Cruz. Valenzuela is on his bike, trying to keep Cruz off him. Valenzuela resets in the center of the ring and pops off a few jabs. Cruz has slowed now. Valenzuela tags him with a few more jabs. Cruz lunges forward with a right hand but misses. Home stretch. Valenzuela paws out another series of jabs and crosses. Hard left hand by Valenzuela. That’s all she wrote. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Valenzuela. (116-112 Valenzuela.)

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jose Valenzuela def. Isaac Cruz via split decision (116-112, 113-115, 116-112)