PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Montoya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Montoya
vs
De La Cruz

176 cm
19
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rufus Montoya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gilbert De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Montoya sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Montoya drops down looking for a counter takedown but De La Cruz sprawls and moves away.

De La Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Montoya in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Montoya throws an elbow but misses.

De La Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

De La Cruz rushes Montoya and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Montoya can't break the clinch.
De La Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Montoya can't find room to land a body shot as De La Cruz controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montoya is looking for a takedown up against the cage. De La Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

De La Cruz manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De La Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Montoya in a clinch.
De La Cruz wants to take the fight to the mat but Montoya manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
De La Cruz lands with a short shot to the head.

De La Cruz jumps guard.
De La Cruz tries to strike from the bottom.
De La Cruz pulls Montoya in close to prevent any damage.
De La Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
De La Cruz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La 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.

De La Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Montoya gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if De La Cruz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Montoya is looking to work some ground and pound but De La Cruz has wrist control.
De La Cruz trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montoya is trying to maintain the position but De La Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
De La Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
De La Cruz prevents Montoya from improving his position.
It looks like De La Cruz is going to stand back up.
De La Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
De La Cruz working over Montoya with some ground and pound. Montoya looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Montoya is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, De La Cruz seems content to control.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Montoya trying to control but De La Cruz postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De La Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

De La Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Montoya swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Montoya wants to clinch.
De La Cruz unleashes a big counter combination but Montoya bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Montoya is looking to clinch.
Montoya tests De La Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Montoya checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montoya doesn't manage to clinch there - De La Cruz circles away.
Montoya leaves De La Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Montoya changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
As De La Cruz tries to get set, Montoya tries to push him back and clinch up but De La Cruz manages to avoid the attempt.
De La Cruz shoots in and drives through. Montoya sprawls well.
De La Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.

De La Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Montoya is trying to defend but De La Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Montoya is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with De La Cruz in particular looking to stall.
De La Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montoya is staying active underneath De La Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Montoya tries to kick De La Cruz off but De La Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
De La Cruz wants to stand up but Montoya is controlling the position.
Montoya slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Montoya working a defensive guard but De La Cruz manages to pass into side control anyway.
Montoya might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

De La Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
De La Cruz trying to control the position but Montoya is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montoya is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked De La Cruz off and has taken his back!
De La Cruz turns into Montoya and is now in his guard.
Montoya wants to sweep but no luck.
De La Cruz wants to control from the top but Montoya keeps moving.
De La Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that De La Cruz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montoya working a defensive guard here.
Montoya keeping full guard, as De La Cruz tries to pass.
De La Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Montoya is trying to control the position but De La Cruz postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Montoya tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

De La Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Montoya stalling in the clinch but De La Cruz improves position.

De La Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.
De La Cruz trying to control the position.
De La Cruz lands a good elbow from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz pulls Montoya in close to prevent any damage.
Montoya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
De La Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montoya is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De La Cruz is controlling him.
Montoya 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.
De La Cruz is pushing down on Montoya's leg trying to pass to half guard. Montoya is fighting to maintain full guard but De La Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
De La Cruz trying to pass the guard but Montoya defending well.
De La Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Montoya trying to control from the bottom.
De La Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Montoya wants to improve his position but De La Cruz is controlling well.
De La Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Montoya defends it.
Gilbert De La Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
De La Cruz controlling the pace.
De La Cruz passes to full mount!
Montoya is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

De La Cruz wants to finish this one by submission but Montoya is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from De La Cruz.
De La Cruz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Montoya can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Montoya is in all sorts of trouble here.

De La Cruz is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Montoya has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Montoya!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz pulls Montoya in close to prevent any damage.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from De La Cruz.
De La Cruz is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Montoya postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
De La Cruz is trying to control the position but Montoya postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now De La Cruz is on top in guard.

Rufus Montoya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gilbert De La Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Montoya can't keep his opponent in guard - De La Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert De La Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got De La 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert De La Cruz!