PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mister Sailo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mister Sailo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sailo
vs
Cruz

180 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mister Sailo!
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, Leon Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz clinches up with Sailo and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Sailo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sailo missing with knees to the body.
Cruz avoiding damage as Sailo throws knees to the body.
Sailo lands with a short shot to the head.
Sailo is trying to force a seperation but Cruz has the dominant position.

Cruz jumps into guard, dragging Sailo to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sailo from controlling successfully.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Sailo postures up.
Sailo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sailo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Sailo throws a big elbow that misses.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sailo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sailo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sailo 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.
Sailo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mister Sailo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice cross by Sailo.
Sailo throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Sailo misses with a few strikes there.
Sailo misses with the combination.
Sailo throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sailo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cruz pinned against the cage. Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A punch combination from Sailo misses.
Sailo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sailo doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Sailo tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sailo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sailo doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Sailo is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz clinches up against the cage.
Cruz keeps control of Sailo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sailo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sailo looking to stall.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sailo to keep the fight standing.

Cruz pulls guard successfully.
Sailo tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Sailo trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sailo throws a big right hand that misses.
Sailo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sailo trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz pulls Sailo in close to his closed guard and prevents Sailo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sailo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mister Sailo just wasn't active enough.
Sailo tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sailo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sailo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sailo moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mister Sailo 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.

Sailo lands with a cross.
Sailo fails to land the takedown.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Sailo.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Sailo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cruz momentarily.
Mister Sailo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sailo throws a combination. Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sailo throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Sailo scores with a four punch combination!

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sailo shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Sailo finish him?
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sailo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Sailo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sailo shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Sailo is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz seems to have recovered his senses.
Sailo tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Sailo is looking to land body kicks.
Sailo tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Sailo throws a combination that misses

and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sailo trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sailo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sailo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sailo keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sailo keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but instead Sailo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sailo wants to stand but Cruz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sailo tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
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!
Sailo wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sailo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sailo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sailo wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.
Sailo throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz wants to control the position but Sailo says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but Sailo postures up.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Sailo is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Sailo tries to stand and escape but Cruz is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sailo trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mister Sailo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Sailo throws out a leg kick but Cruz moves out of range and Sailo only half commits.
Sailo looks to land a body kick but Cruz moved away.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sailo throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Sailo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Sailo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sailo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mister Sailo is winning the standup battle so far.
Sailo wants to clinch.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sailo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sailo tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Sailo wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sailo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sailo is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sailo.
Sailo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sailo throws a leg kick that misses.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sailo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sailo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sailo throws a push kick but Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Sailo looks for the body kick but Cruz saw that one coming.
Sailo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sailo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sailo shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sailo throws a leg kick but Cruz checks it.
Sailo cracks a nice hook into Cruz's ribs.
Sailo throws a leg kick but Cruz moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sailo tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Sailo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sailo gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sailo finds it's way round the side to connect with Cruz's head.
Mister Sailo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice combination there by Sailo.
Sailo wants to clinch.
Sailo feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Sailo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Sailo. Sailo gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Sailo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sailo is looking to clinch.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice cross by Sailo.
Sailo tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sailo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Leon Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sailo is looking to clinch.
Sailo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cruz eats them both and turns towards Sailo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sailo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mister Sailo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sailo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mister Sailo!