PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cody Delacruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Lupo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lupo has chosen Redemption Song - Bob Marley as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Delacruz
vs
Lupo

176 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cody Delacruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jimmy Lupo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lupo tries to sprawl but Delacruz drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Lupo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Delacruz lands a head kick!
Lupo has his takedown stuffed
and Delacruz counters with a head kick.

Delacruz rushes Lupo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Delacruz successfully pulls guard.
Delacruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lupo wants to control from the top but Delacruz keeps moving.
Delacruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lupo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Delacruz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Lupo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Delacruz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lupo trying to control but Delacruz is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lupo stands up from Delacruz's guard - Lupo perhaps looking for a knockout.

Delacruz clinches up with Lupo and pushes him back against the cage.

Delacruz gets control of Lupo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Delacruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Delacruz keeping moving, preventing Lupo from controlling successfully.
Delacruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lupo won't allow Delacruz to get back to his feet.

Delacruz is working an open guard so Lupo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lupo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Delacruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lupo somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delacruz has managed to clinch.
Lupo tries to pull guard but Delacruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cody Delacruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Lupo.
Lupo tries to pull guard but Delacruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lupo tries for a takedown but Delacruz manages to get underhooks.
Lupo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Delacruz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Delacruz clinches up against the cage.
Lupo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Delacruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Delacruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Lupo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lupo wants to control from the top but Delacruz keeps moving.

Delacruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lupo trying to control the position from guard on top but Delacruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupo prevents Delacruz from getting back to his feet.
Lupo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Delacruz wants to get back to his feet but Lupo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lupo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Delacruz is keeping the position for now.

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

Lupo shoots in and gets a takedown into Delacruz's guard.

Delacruz is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Lupo manages to pull guard.
Delacruz wants to stand but Lupo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Delacruz preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Delacruz 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.

Lupo closes the distance and pushes Delacruz back into the cage.
Lupo tries to break the clinch but Delacruz is controlling the position.
Lupo is working for takedown but Delacruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Delacruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Lupo has Delacruz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lupo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Delacruz tumbling to the mat - Lupo dives into Delacruz's guard.
Lupo prevents Delacruz from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Delacruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lupo can do to turn this around?
Lupo is pushing down on Delacruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Delacruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Lupo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lupo prevents Delacruz from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz won't allow Lupo to pass to mount.
Lupo prevents Delacruz from standing back up.
Lupo is trying to control. Delacruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Delacruz tries to kick Lupo off but Lupo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Lupo seems to be looking for submissions.
Delacruz trying to control from the bottom.

Lupo is looking for a kimura but Delacruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lupo to get the leverage.

Delacruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Lupo there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz is in trouble now - Lupo has advanced to mount!
Delacruz tries to buck Lupo off but he can't manage it.
Delacruz is trying to stand but he's just given Lupo his back.

Lupo is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Delacruz is defending well though. Lupo let's go of the attempt for now.
Lupo lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Jimmy Lupo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lupo tightening his grip on Delacruz, looking for the choke.

Lupo is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Delacruz defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lupo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz wants to get back to his feet.
Lupo has good solid back control here.
Delacruz is trying to stand back up.
Lupo keeps control of the position as Delacruz tries to break free.

Delacruz defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Delacruz is trying to stand back up.
Lupo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Delacruz is trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Delacruz showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Lupo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lupo looks for a takedown but Delacruz sprawls well.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lupo enables Delacruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lupo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lupo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Delacruz dives into side control.

Lupo tries to buck Delacruz off but Delacruz is having none of it.
Delacruz wants to stand but Lupo is controlling his arm.
Delacruz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Delacruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lupo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here as Delacruz stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz working away.
Delacruz is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lupo's shoulder. That is not cool.
Lupo struggling a bit here.
Lupo is not content to let Delacruz control the position.

Delacruz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lupo is looking to regain half guard here but Delacruz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two 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.
Delacruz trying to control the position but Lupo is working away.
Lupo tries to improve position but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lupo taking a bit of punishment here - Delacruz scoring with strikes.
Lupo can't do much from the bottom here.
Delacruz taking a break here but Lupo is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Delacruz stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Jimmy Lupo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Delacruz leaves Lupo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Delacruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Delacruz stops a takedown attempt from Lupo.
Cody Delacruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Lupo.
Lupo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lupo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Delacruz.
A frustrated look appears on Lupo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lupo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Delacruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delacruz breaks the clinch.
Delacruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Delacruz rushes Lupo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Delacruz leaning against his opponent.
Lupo wants to take the fight to the mat but Delacruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Delacruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Delacruz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Delacruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Delacruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Delacruz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cody Delacruz!
The defeated Jimmy Lupo had this to say: 'The Big Bad Wolf will be back.. and better than ever!'.