PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tofano Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Schield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schield comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Luniz - I got 5 on it kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Tofano Cruz looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cruz
vs
Schield

186 cm
20
230 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

225 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Gifts of the Rainforest

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tofano Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sammy Schield!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schield throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.

Cruz is rocked!
Sammy Schield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Cruz forces Schield back against the cage and clinches.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cruz wants to break free but Schield has control.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Schield just stands there and leans against the cage.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Schield looks to clinch

and Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Schield!

Cruz stands up from mount. Strange move.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schield closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side

and Cruz counters by clinching up.
Schield jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Schield around his waist. Schield gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Schield manages to break the clinch.

Schield scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Schield forces his way into half guard.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Schield is controlling well.
Schield tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cruz.
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 doing well to control the position and prevent Schield from advancing to side control.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Schield is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schield seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Schield tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cruz controls his leg.
Cruz keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Schield fails with the takedown

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Schield is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Schield is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz prevents Schield from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up from half guard.
Schield lands with a slapping head kick.
Schield throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Schield lands a high kick!
Schield is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schield flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up and beckons Schield to join him on the feet.
Schield closes the distance but Cruz moves to the side

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schield won't be happy with that.
Schield gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Schield makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Schield is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Schield shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tofano Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Schield.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Schield is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Schield misses with a takedown

and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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 has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Schield is proving hard to escape from.
Schield looking for a sweep. Not yet Schield, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Schield swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Schield seems keen to control Cruz's posture.

Schield has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Schield looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Schield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Schield throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Schield shoots in but no luck this time.

Schield takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz lands an elbow that stopped Schield in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tofano Cruz 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 tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Schield thuds a left hand into Cruz's body.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Schield but Schield pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tofano Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Schield.
Schield shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Schield keeps the fight on the outside.

Cruz darts in and clinches Schield up against the cage.

Cruz pulls guard successfully.

Cruz pushes Schield off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Schield looks to clinch

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Schield pushes Cruz off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schield throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schield wants to clinch but Cruz slips to the side

and Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz just leaning against Schield, taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Schield pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Schield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
The is referee keeping an eye on Cruz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Schield is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Schield wants to clinch

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Schield throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Schield with a poor takedown

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz avoiding damage as Schield throws knees to the body.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Schield holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tofano Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schield pulls guard.
Tofano Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cruz stands up from Schield's guard - Cruz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Schield fails with the takedown

and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. Schield didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Schield shoots and misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cruz is standing up over Schield. Schield looks to escape but Cruz dives into side control.
Cruz takes a little break here. Schield wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Schield is trying to get back to half guard.
Schield is not content to let Cruz control the position.

Cruz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Schield has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cruz but great work by Schield.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Schield.
Sloppy strikes there by Schield.
Cruz tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Cruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Schield looking to finish with strikes here!

Schield looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cruz regains half guard.
Schield not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Schield stops Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Schield wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz trying to control here.
Cruz wants to stand back up but Schield manages to pass into side control.
Cruz tries to bench press Schield off him but Schield keeps the position.
Schield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

Cruz explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Schield throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A head kick from Schield lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Schield but Schield pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Schield is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tofano Cruz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Schield shoots and misses

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cruz.
Schield throws an elbow that misses.
Cruz stalls.
Schield is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Schield into the cage.

Schield manages to pull guard.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Schield.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz stands up and waves to Schield to follow him.
Schield tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Schield fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schield is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz won't allow Schield to sweep him here.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Cruz gets to his feet - Schield follows without any prompting.
Schield darts in trying to clinch

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Schield fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Schield, up you get!
Cruz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schield shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Schield darts in trying to clinch

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schield throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cruz with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cruz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Schield trying to control here.
Schield desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Cruz prevents Schield from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schield looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Schield is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cruz uses his free foot to push down on Schield's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Schield.

Cruz stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
A head kick from Schield lands but Cruz takes it in his stride.
Schield plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Schield tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Schield fights it but they end up in guard.
Tofano Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Schield.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cruz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Schield for as long as he can get away with.
Schield lands a decent punch to the body there.
Schield keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Schield isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cruz stacks Schield on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cruz!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cruz stands up.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schield can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Schield but Schield pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sammy Schield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Schield. Schield obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tofano Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tofano Cruz!