PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frank Arnold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Arnold
vs
Cruz

175 cm
22
152 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

181 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arnold has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
Arnold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arnold is looking to take this one to the mat.

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

Arnold is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Arnold looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arnold can't keep his opponent in guard - Cruz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cruz is keen to just control but Arnold is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold gets back to full guard.
Cruz stays in close to Arnold's body and controls the position.
Arnold is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold 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.
Arnold seems keen to control Cruz's posture.
Arnold trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
Cruz tries to stand but Arnold is controlling from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Arnold's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Arnold had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.

Arnold is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Arnold gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Arnold showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cruz is wriggling around but Arnold manages to pass to half guard.
Arnold prevents Cruz from standing back up.
Cruz is not content to let Arnold control the position.

Cruz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Arnold pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Arnold control the position.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Arnold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Arnold is very close to passing his half guard.
Cruz is looking to escape.
Arnold keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cruz trying to control here.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cruz pushes Arnold off looking to stand but Arnold dives back in and keeps control.

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

Arnold closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cruz quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Arnold is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.
Arnold is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Arnold is controlling him well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arnold 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.

Frank Arnold dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cruz wants to clinch.

Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Arnold drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Arnold avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arnold tries to counter by clinching up but Cruz breaks away and moves out of range.

Arnold has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Arnold changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Arnold swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arnold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Arnold wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arnold takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Arnold has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cruz into the cage.
Arnold misses with a punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cruz as Arnold tries to tie him up.
Arnold managing to block the knees to the body from Cruz.
Cruz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arnold is defending well for now.
Arnold throws an elbow but it misses.
Arnold jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.
Arnold misses with a punch to the body.
Arnold drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arnold fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Arnold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Arnold backwards.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Arnold controls his hands.
Arnold tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
Arnold fails to pull guard.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Arnold is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz working Arnold over with knees to the body.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arnold is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Arnold is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Arnold fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pushes Arnold back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz gets through Arnold's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cruz.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz pushes Arnold back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arnold wants to take the fight to the mat but Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Arnold looking for a takedown.
Cruz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cruz throws an elbow but misses.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Arnold.
Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
Arnold is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cruz has Arnold pushed against the cage.
Come on Cruz - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ricardo Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't find room to land a body shot as Arnold controls the action.
Arnold can't get the takedown.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
Cruz stalling.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Arnold.
Arnold tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruz smiles and moves away.

Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz keeps control of Arnold as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Arnold blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Cruz has Arnold up against the cage in a clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz tries to clinch up

and Arnold counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Arnold prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Arnold tries to pass.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Arnold from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold is stalling in the full guard.
Arnold pushing down on Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Arnold.
Cruz pushes Arnold off looking to stand but Arnold dives back in and keeps control.

Arnold seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.
Cruz is not content to let Arnold control the position.
Arnold is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cruz is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Arnold has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Arnold is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Arnold keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick by Cruz misses

and Arnold counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Arnold trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Frank Arnold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Arnold stands up from Cruz's guard - Arnold perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but Arnold moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Arnold misses its target.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Arnold counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Arnold in a clinch.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Cruz.
Arnold throws an elbow that misses.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Arnold blocks it.
Cruz misses with a knee to the head.
Arnold throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Arnold is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.
Arnold drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cruz misses with a body kick.
A quick step to the side and Arnold tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Arnold circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees to the body from Cruz.
Cruz missing with knees to the body.
Arnold tries to pull guard but Cruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arnold takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Arnold goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cruz prevents it.
Arnold is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

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