PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robt Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabio Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pena
vs
Cruz

196 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

225 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robt Pena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fabio Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz instigates a clinch.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pena prevents it.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cruz lands a nice uppercut.
Cruz is working for takedown but Pena is calmly controlling the position for now.
Robt Pena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Cruz.
Cruz pushes Pena back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Cruz jumps guard and drags Pena to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pena is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
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.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pena might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pena doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pena manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cruz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pena walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pena displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pena manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A quick step to the side and Pena tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Pena tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz keeps control of Pena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pena misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pena, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stalling against the cage.
Cruz has Pena pressed against the cage, preventing Pena from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pena is trying to break free.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pena pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pena is trying to force a seperation but Cruz has the dominant position.
Pena stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Pena throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cruzs head.
Pena is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Pena with a poor takedown

and Cruz counters by clinching up.
Pena wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Pena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pena shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pena paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pena tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pena fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pena misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Pena manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pena went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Pena misses with a wild body shot.
Cruz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pena.
Cruz wants to counter with a clinch but Pena pushes him away.
Pena shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robt Pena. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz clinches up with Pena and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz leaning against his opponent.
Pena is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.
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.

Cruz decides to pull guard.
Pena postures up.
Pena wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Pena won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Cruz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pena is controlling him.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pena defends well.

Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz cracks the inside of Pena's front leg.
Pena stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Pena. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Pena fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena stuffs the takedown.
Cruz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pena on the side of the head.
Cruz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pena misses with a wild body shot.

Pena shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pena was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Pena is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cruz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pena just content to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena wants to stand but Cruz has his arm trapped.

Cruz throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pena defends it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz fails with the takedown

and Pena counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robt Pena will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jab from Cruz.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pena avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Pena on that attempt.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Robt Pena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Cruz.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz dives in and grabs Pena's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pena pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Pena shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fabio Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pena closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Pena wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.
Cruz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pena pulls his head out easily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pena wants to stand up but Cruz has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pena as he jumps to the side.

Cruz has Pena up against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz keeps control of Pena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pena shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cruz pinned against the cage. Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fabio Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pena shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pena will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Donk. Cruz catches Pena right on the button with a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabio Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

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