PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Kruzov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlos Velasquez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kruzov
vs
Velasquez

175 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergei Kruzov!
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, Carlos Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruzov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velasquez blocks a head kick by Kruzov.

Velasquez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kruzov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Velasquez is in Kruzov's guard.
Kruzov keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez won't allow Kruzov to get back to his feet.
Velasquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kruzov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carlos Velasquez.
Kruzov doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Kruzov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kruzov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kruzov tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Velasquez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Velasquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Carlos Velasquez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kruzov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Velasquez counters with a series of strikes. Kruzov will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Kruzov tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.

Kruzov rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the cage.
Velasquez taking a breather.
Velasquez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kruzov is defending well.
Kruzov is pressed up against the cage. Velasquez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kruzov down to the mat. Kruzov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sergei Kruzov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Velasquez.

Kruzov clinches.

Kruzov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kruzov misses with a head kick.
Velasquez tries to clinch up.

Velasquez clinches up with Kruzov and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kruzov's efforts to push away.
Kruzov effectively controlling the action here.

Kruzov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kruzov leaves Velasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Velasquez avoids the head kick by Kruzov.
Kruzov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kruzov misses with a head kick.
Sergei Kruzov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruzov slips under a jab from Velasquez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kruzov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez moves out of range of the body kick from Kruzov.
Kruzov moves in looking to clinch but Velasquez pushes him off.
Velasquez throws a right and a left that Kruzov avoids nicely.
Kruzov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Velasquez has his takedown stuffed

and Kruzov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Velasquez looks winded!
Velasquez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kruzov breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Kruzov.
Kruzov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Velasquez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Velasquez looks to land a combination but Kruzov avoids it well.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Velasquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velasquez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Velasquez blocks a head kick by Kruzov.
Velasquez shoots in looking for a takedown but Kruzov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Velasquez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Kruzov.
Kruzov throws a head kick that misses.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Kruzov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kruzov doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez is looking to clinch.
Kruzov lands a head kick. Velasquez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick from Kruzov lands but Velasquez takes it in his stride.

Velasquez is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruzov misses with a head kick.
Velasquez is still on wobbly legs! Can Kruzov finish him?
Velasquez blocks a head kick by Kruzov.
Kruzov tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kruzov tries a head kick but it misses.
Sergei Kruzov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kruzov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kruzov throws a sloppy head kick and Velasquez moves out of range easily.
Kruzov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kruzov throws a head kick but Velasquez moves out of range.

Kruzov gets caught napping as Velasquez dives in and scores a takedown. Kruzov manages to retain guard.
Velasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kruzov wants to stand and escape but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses. Kruzov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Kruzov!
Kruzov wants to get up but he can't break Velasquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kruzov postures up.

Kruzov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Velasquez wants to stand but Kruzov is controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kruzov stands up from Velasquez's guard - Kruzov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Velasquez seems to have recovered his senses.
Kruzov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kruzov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Velasquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez gets a double leg takedown into Kruzov's guard.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruzov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruzov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Velasquez stands and steps away. Kruzov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kruzov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kruzov doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Kruzov misses with a head kick.

Kruzov forces Velasquez back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez has a couple of punches blocked by Kruzov.

Kruzov breaks the clinch.
Kruzov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kruzov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Velasquez stands and steps away. Kruzov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Velasquez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sergei Kruzov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Velasquez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Velasquez won't allow Kruzov to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez advances to half guard.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Velasquez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Velasquez trying to mount his opponent but Kruzov defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Carlos Velasquez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Kruzov.
Kruzov throws a head kick but Velasquez moves out of range.

Velasquez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kruzov to the mat! Kruzov manages to get full guard.
Velasquez postures up and lands a big shot to Kruzov's brow.
Velasquez prevents Kruzov from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruzov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carlos Velasquez.
Velasquez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kruzov has Velasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Kruzov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kruzov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velasquez is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Velasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kruzov to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruzov stops a takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Kruzov avoids the elbow strike from Velasquez, against the cage.
Velasquez is trying to pull guard but Kruzov has him pressed against the cage.
Sergei Kruzov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Velasquez.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kruzov.
Kruzov throws a punch but it's blocked by Velasquez.
Kruzov stalling.
Kruzov is looking to control Velasquez's arms but Velasquez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kruzov has his back to the cage.
Kruzov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruzov keeps control of Velasquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kruzov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez misses with a kick to the body
and Kruzov counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Kruzov.
Velasquez shoots in but no luck this time.
Kruzov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kruzov darts in and clinches Velasquez up against the cage.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kruzov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Velasquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kruzov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velasquez somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruzov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kruzov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sergei Kruzov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kruzov tries a head kick but it misses.
Velasquez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kruzov.
Velasquez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kruzov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kruzov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kruzov tries to clinch up but Velasquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Kruzov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Velasquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Kruzov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Velasquez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight for Sergei Kruzov!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Carlos Velasquez!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Carlos Velasquez!

Carlos Velasquez wins by split decision!