PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robson Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Gilligan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robson Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Gilligan

178 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Montreal, Robson Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Gilligan!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilligan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cruz defends well and Gilligan ends up having to push Cruz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Cruz taking a break here but Gilligan is having none of it and regains half guard.
Gilligan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gilligan is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gilligan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gilligan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gilligan is trying to keep Cruz in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gilligan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Gilligan's legs - danger averted.

Gilligan has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Gilligan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gilligan on the ground.
Cruz passes Gilligan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cruz is pressing down on Gilligan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gilligan is holding on for now.

Cruz is working for a kimura but Gilligan is defending it quite comfortably.
Gilligan won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.

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

Gilligan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gilligan is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz advances position into side control!

Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilligan manages to get back to half guard.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gilligan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gilligan is trying to control but can't.

Gilligan looking for submissions off his back.
Gilligan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gilligan.

Gilligan working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Gilligan keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilligan trying to strike off his back.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Gilligan is keeping the position.
Gilligan lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Gilligan has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.

Gilligan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gilligan looks winded!
Cruz pushes down on Gilligan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cruz is pressing down on Gilligan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gilligan is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robson Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gilligan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gilligan wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Gilligan is looking for a sweep.
Cruz wants to control but Gilligan is keeping him busy.

Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gilligan wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Cruz taking a break here but Gilligan is having none of it and regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilligan trying to control from the bottom.
Gilligan is not content to let Cruz control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is thwarting Gilligan's attempts to control the position.
Gilligan is not content to let Cruz control the position.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gilligan is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Gilligan wants to get back to full guard.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gilligan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.
Gilligan is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two 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.
Gilligan won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Gilligan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Gilligan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Gilligan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Gilligan from controlling successfully.

Gilligan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gilligan has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilligan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.

Cruz has an active guard here but Gilligan has managed to pass into half guard.

Gilligan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gilligan.
Gilligan throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cruz.
Gilligan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilligan passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to hold on to Gilligan's head to control him but Gilligan postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Robson Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gilligan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Gilligan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gilligan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.

Cruz 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.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilligan is retaining full guard.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gilligan can do to turn this around?
Gilligan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

Gilligan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Gilligan is tightening it up a little... Cruz has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Cruz reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Cruz taps out! Nice BJJ there by Gilligan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Jim Gilligan!