PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Decimus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

De La Cruz
vs
Meridius

193 cm
21
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
216 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Spartan Nutrition

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gilbert De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Decimus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
De La Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
De La Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Meridius.

De La Cruz clinches.
Meridius drops to a knee looking for a takedown but De La Cruz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Meridius tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. De La Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Meridius wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz prevents a body shot from Meridius.

Meridius has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed De La Cruz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
De La Cruz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
De La Cruz is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz missing with punches from the bottom.

Meridius wants to work for an arm triangle but De La Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
De La Cruz is not content to let Meridius control the position.
Meridius trying to pass the guard but De La Cruz defending well.
Meridius passes to full mount!
De La Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Meridius is looking to advance position but De La Cruz won't allow it.
Meridius is trying to control the action in half guard but De La Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Meridius has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Beast Playground. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
De La Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Meridius is very close to passing his half guard.
Meridius wants to control but De La Cruz is keeping him busy.
De La Cruz is looking to escape.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Meridius is pressing down on De La Cruz's thigh, looking to free his foot. De La Cruz is holding on for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Meridius moves out of range of the body kick.
And Meridius tries to counter it with a takedown but De La Cruz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
De La Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Meridius.
De La Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Meridius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Meridius steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from De La Cruz.

De La Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.

De La Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Meridius uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to free his leg and advance position but De La Cruz is retaining full guard.
De La Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Meridius won't allow De La Cruz to sweep him here.
De La Cruz keeping moving, preventing Meridius from controlling successfully.
De La Cruz wants to stand and escape but Meridius is having none of it.

Meridius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Meridius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De La Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

De La Cruz kicks Meridius off and gets to his feet.
A jab from De La Cruz misses.
Meridius blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Meridius doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
De La Cruz is breathing heavily.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Meridius tries to sprawl out of it but De La Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Meridius manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A decent looking body kick lands there for De La Cruz.
Meridius has a takedown stuffed.
Gilbert De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decimus Meridius.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De La Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meridius paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from De La Cruz misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck for Meridius with that takedown attempt.
Meridius shoots in for a takedown but De La Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Meridius tries to get set, De La Cruz tries to push him back and clinch up but Meridius manages to avoid the attempt.
Meridius shoots in for a takedown but De La Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gilbert De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decimus Meridius.
De La Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Meridius drops down looking to force a counter takedown but De La Cruz defends it well.
Meridius with a lazy takedown attempt

and De La Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Meridius's guard.

Meridius working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. De La Cruz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. De La Cruz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Meridius wants to sweep here but De La Cruz controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Meridius has wrist control.
De La Cruz tries to stand but Meridius is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Meridius wants to sweep here but De La Cruz controlling him for the moment.
De La Cruz is looking to stand up but Meridius won't let him.
De La Cruz landing some decent shots from guard.
Meridius lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
De La Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Meridius won't allow De La Cruz to get back to his feet.
Meridius postures up.
Meridius wants to pass the guard but De La Cruz is keeping the position.
De La Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Meridius works a leg free and moves into half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Meridius is defended easily by De La Cruz.
Meridius shoots for a double leg takedown but De La Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Meridius's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

De La Cruz rushes Meridius and presses him up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Meridius.

De La Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Meridius ducks under a wild hook from De La Cruz.
Meridius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but De La Cruz manages to avoid it.
De La Cruz went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
No luck for Meridius with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius fails with the takedown

and De La Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by De La Cruz.

De La Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
De La Cruz dives in and grabs Meridius's left leg, looking for a takedown. Meridius pushes down on De La Cruz's head and hops out.

Meridius drives through with a takedown into De La Cruz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Meridius trying to control the position from guard on top but De La Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De La Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
De La Cruz keeping full guard, as Meridius tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Meridius works to advance to full mount. De La Cruz defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
De La Cruz is trying to escape the mount.
De La Cruz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Meridius wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
De La Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Meridius is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but De La Cruz is surviving well by controlling Meridius's body position as best he can.

Meridius looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Meridius is trying hard to land a takedown here. De La Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Meridius gets tackled into the cage by De La Cruz. De La Cruz maintains the clinch.
Meridius changes levels and goes for a takedown here. De La Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from De La Cruz is defended easily by Meridius.
De La Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Meridius shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

De La Cruz kicks off Meridius and gets to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz looks to land a body kick but Meridius moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius circles away from the clinch attempt.
De La Cruz misses with a leg kick.
Meridius throws out a counter right but De La Cruz avoids it with no problem.
The fight stays on the outside here - De La Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meridius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

De La Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Meridius, pushing him back against the cage.
Meridius drops down looking for an ankle pick but De La Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gilbert De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decimus Meridius.
Meridius blocks a head kick by De La Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to clinch.

De La Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

De La Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
De La Cruz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Meridius on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Meridius gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from De La Cruz.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De La Cruz as Meridius tries to tie him up.
Meridius swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. De La Cruz smiles and moves away.
De La Cruz jabs Meridius right on the nose. Meridius blinks but takes it well.
De La Cruz misses with the combination.
De La Cruz throws the kick towards the body but Meridius avoids it.
Gilbert De La Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De La Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz is looking to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Meridius misses.
Gilbert De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meridius fails to land the takedown.
De La Cruz tries to clinch up.
Meridius changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Meridius takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Meridius closes this distance looking for a takedown but De La Cruz circles away.
De La Cruz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
De La Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Meridius.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meridius slips under a jab.
Meridius with the counter takedown but De La Cruz avoids it easily.
De La Cruz digs a good hook to Meridius's body.
Decimus Meridius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gilbert De La Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De La Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert De La Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well De La Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbert De La Cruz!
Gilbert De La Cruz took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.