PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emielio RioGrande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by My Way - Limpbizkit. RioGrande is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by house. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cruz
vs
RioGrande

186 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

201 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emielio RioGrande!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Cruz misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from RioGrande.
An attempted straight right counter from Cruz misses the target.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. RioGrande moves away and avoids it.
RioGrande tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz lands an overhand right.
RioGrande shoots in but no luck this time.
RioGrande has a takedown stuffed.
Rafael Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emielio RioGrande.
RioGrande avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a jab when RioGrande was well out of range.
RioGrande throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing RioGrande off to one side.
RioGrande is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Cruz misses its target.
RioGrande fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
RioGrande shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
RioGrande shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz throws a good cross that connects.
Cruz lands with a straight right. RioGrande didn't see that one coming.

RioGrande is rocked!
RioGrande avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from RioGrande.
RioGrande looks winded!
RioGrande gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Cruz gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! RioGrande is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rafael Cruz!
Rafael Cruz looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I do striking; I do Wrestling and I jiu jitsu. One more fight; then I next for da belt, no-one stop me from da belt.'.
Emielio RioGrande was interviewed post fight and said 'i gave my best'.