PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Gore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Gore
vs
Cruz

170 cm
23
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bjorn Gore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamie Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz fails with the takedown.
A good leg kick by Gore.
Gore wants to clinch but Cruz slips to the side

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Gore fights it but they end up in guard.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Cruz wants to stand but Gore is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gore is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gore not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gore shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Gore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gore feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Gore then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gore avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Gore sprawls well.
Bjorn Gore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Gore moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Gore does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jamie Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gore misses with a head kick.

Cruz shoots in and bounces Gore off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Gore is retaining full guard.
Gore being controlled here, momentarily.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gore's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gore not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cruz controls from within his opponent's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jamie Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cruz fails with the takedown
and Gore counters with a thumping low kick.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gore looks to clinch

and Cruz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cruz.
Gore is breathing heavily.
Gore wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gore is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz misses with a double jab.
Gore tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Gore avoids them all with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Gore.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gore defends it nicely.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gore is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gore gets underhooks to prevent Cruz's takedown attempt.
Bjorn Gore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Cruz.
Gore is trying to break free.
Cruz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gore is trying to break the clinch but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Gore tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gore pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

Gore manages to pull guard.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
Gore wants to improve his position but instead Cruz has moved into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.
Jamie Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gore trying to control from the bottom.
Gore tries to kick Cruz off but Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cruz prevents Gore from improving his position.
Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Jamie Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gore slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gore avoids it really well and circles away.
Gore closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Gore sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gore throws a front kick that sends Cruz stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Gore.
Gore ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gore at a distance.

Cruz clinches.
Gore tries to circle away but Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Gore gets underhooks to prevent Cruz's takedown attempt.
Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gore's efforts to push away.

Gore ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gore no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jamie Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gore knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gore tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.
Gore gets full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Gore.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gore swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gore, up you get!
Cruz fails with the takedown.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cruz tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jamie Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gore thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gore scores with a decent looking hook.
Gore slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gore.
Gore stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.
Gore displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Bjorn Gore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Cruz.
Gore scores with a decent looking hook.
Bjorn Gore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bjorn Gore is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gore stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gore wants it to stay on the feet.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Gore.

Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gore sprawls well initially but Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cruz slips a nice elbow through Gore's hands, connecting with Gore's forehead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gore is trying to get back to full guard.
Gore is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

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