PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ante Gotovina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

De La Cruz
vs
Gotovina

193 cm
27
194 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

185 cm
23
203 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Sin City Allstars

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gilbert De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ante Gotovina!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of De La Cruz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gotovina lands a nice hook to De La Cruz's body. De La Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

De La Cruz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gotovina controls De La Cruz momentarily but De La Cruz frees himself.
De La Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gotovina looking for a guillotine here but De La Cruz defends easily.

De La Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Gotovina is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gotovina manages to kick De La Cruz off! De La Cruz jumps back into Gotovina's guard.
De La Cruz wants to pass the guard but Gotovina is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotovina trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gotovina is looking for a triangle but De La Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
Our spies down at at Soul Supremacy Rio inform us that Gotovina has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

De La Cruz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gotovina dives on top into guard.

De La Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gotovina keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of De La Cruz's head.
Gotovina content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
De La Cruz seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Gotovina scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gotovina stands and throws De La Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
De La Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gotovina remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Gotovina wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by De La Cruz, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotovina working the ground and pound from side control.
Gotovina tries to move into full mount but can't pass De La Cruz's legs.
Gotovina has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
De La Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gotovina scores with a couple of short elbows.
De La Cruz gets back to half guard.

Gotovina is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
De La Cruz has hold of Gotovina's hands but Gotovina slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Gotovina looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

De La Cruz is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotovina is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, De La Cruz is hurt! He's hurt bad - Gotovina fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save De La Cruz from any more punishment! Congratulations to Gotovina! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ante Gotovina!
A relieved looking Ante Gotovina thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.