PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saha Dubov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caonabo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dubov
vs
Cruz

186 cm
21
277 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

190 cm
27
291 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saha Dubov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Caonabo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dubov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Dubov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Dubov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dubov tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saha Dubov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dubov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

Cruz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dubov is trying to keep an underhook but Cruz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cruz controlling the action here.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dubov is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Cruz controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dubov trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Cruz controlling the action here.
Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Dubov defends it.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dubov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dubov is staying active underneath Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cruz controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dubov is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dubov defends it well.

Dubov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dubov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dubov keeps working.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Dubov really is a fat lump.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dubov keeps working.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Dubov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Dubov trying to control here.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Dubov looking for submissions off his back.
Dubov is breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dubov is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Dubov wants to sweep but Cruz has passed to side control!

Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dubov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dubov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caonabo Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dubov shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Dubov shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Dubov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dubov avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz lands a shoulder strike.

Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cruz tries for a kimura but Dubov is defending well.
Cruz staying calm.
Dubov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dubov to his feet.

Cruz forces Dubov back against the ropes and clinches.
Dubov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saha Dubov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Dubov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Cruz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dubov's guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Dubov keeps moving.
Dubov keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dubov working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.

Dubov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.
Cruz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dubov's guard.
Dubov trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dubov is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Dubov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Dubov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Dubov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Caonabo Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dubov leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dubov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dubov off to one side.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Dubov avoids nicely.
Dubov looks to clinch
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dubov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dubov is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Dubov is having none of it.
Dubov is trying to get back to full guard.
Caonabo Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dubov wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dubov defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caonabo Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Dubov. Dubov gets slowly back to his feet.
Dubov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Dubov keeps moving.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.

Cruz clinches up with Dubov and pushes him back against the ropes.
Cruz is pressed up against the ropes. Dubov 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saha Dubov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cruz pulls guard.
Dubov trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Dubov postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dubov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Dubov has gone for a leg lock! Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dubov's guard.
Cruz stands up over Dubov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dubov is trying to hold Cruz in close to prevent damage but Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dubov is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dubov trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dubov is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Dubov trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dubov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dubov trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Saha Dubov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Dubov defends it.
Cruz trying to control from Dubov's half guard. Dubov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Dubov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dubov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dubov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dubov is controlling him.
Dubov postures up.

Dubov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dubov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz pulls Dubov in close to his closed guard and prevents Dubov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Caonabo Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dubov with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caonabo Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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