PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Campion (ranked 2692 p4p, 370 weight class) and Mauricio Dela Cruz (ranked 2222 p4p, 315 weight class). Mauricio Dela Cruz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Campion
vs
Dela Cruz

190 cm
36
210 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

182 cm
39
218 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas Campion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Campion sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dela Cruz shoots for a takedown but Campion saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thomas Campion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Campion swivels and escapes.
Campion defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz drives through with a takedown into Campion's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Campion wriggles free and stands up.
Dela Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Campion gets double underhooks and turns Dela Cruz into the cage.
Campion is looking to counter the offense by Dela Cruz and move into the clinch.
Campion misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Campion moves to clinch but Dela Cruz breaks away

and Dela Cruz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dela Cruz.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Campion looking for a sweep. Not yet Campion, not yet.
Campion is trying to control the position but Dela Cruz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campion wants to get back to his feet but Dela Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Campion looking for a sweep. Not yet Campion, not yet.
Campion seems keen to control Dela Cruz's posture.
Campion has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Campion looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dela Cruz is one step ahead there.
Dela Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Dela Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Campion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dela Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two 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.

Dela Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Campion has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dela Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Campion's legs - danger averted.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Campion keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Campion throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Dela Cruz preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dela Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Campion sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campion looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dela Cruz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dela Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.
Campion is trying to maintain the position but Dela Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.

Campion looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Campion is trying to control but can't.
Dela Cruz wants to pass the guard but Campion is defending well.
Dela Cruz controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Campion taking some punishment here, with Dela Cruz in his half guard.
Dela Cruz content to control rather than advance.
Dela Cruz is looking to stall here but Campion recovers full guard.

Dela Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campion controls Dela Cruz momentarily but Dela Cruz frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thomas Campion will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dela Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Campion napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Campion throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Campion lands a jab to the head.
Campion pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas Campion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Campion as Dela Cruz shoots in.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dela Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Campion, which made it look bad.
Thomas Campion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Dela Cruz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice sprawl there from Campion as Dela Cruz shoots in.
Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Campion, looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz pushes Campion against the cage but Campion circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Campion fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dela Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dela Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Campion.
Campion looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Campion can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dela Cruz controls the pace.
Campion tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Campion has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dela Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Campion's legs - danger averted.
Dela Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Dela Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Dela Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Campion wants to sweep here but Dela Cruz controlling him for the moment.

Campion looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Campion wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Dela Cruz is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Campion defends it.

Dela Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Campion doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dela Cruz.
Campion is looking to control Dela Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Campion avoid being mounted?
Campion avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dela Cruz.

That's four 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.
Dela Cruz is keen to just control but Campion is a slippery customer.
Campion is trying to stand up here but Dela Cruz is controlling him well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Campion keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dela Cruz fails with the takedown.
Campion misses with a head kick.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Campion as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dela Cruz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Campion to score with a decent uppercut.
Dela Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Campion dominated that second round.
That's time! Campion's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Dela Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Campion. Campion maintains the clinch.

Dela Cruz decides to pull guard.
Campion postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Campion looking to sit in guard and control but Dela Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Campion working for a triangle but Dela Cruz defends it easily.
Dela Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dela Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Campion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Campion trying to control the position here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Dela Cruz working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Campion lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Campion postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Campion trying to control but Dela Cruz is working from the bottom.

Dela Cruz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Campion has picked Dela Cruz up and slammed him! Dela Cruz can't keep hold of the triangle and Campion manages to pass to side control!
Dela Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Campion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dela Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Campion wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Dela Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dela Cruz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Campion lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campion scores with a couple of short elbows.
Campion working the head and body with strikes.

Campion wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dela Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Mauricio Dela Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dela Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Campion working the ground and pound.
Dela Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Campion lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dela Cruz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Campion lands some shots froms side control.
Dela Cruz is not content to let Campion control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Campion postures up.
Thomas Campion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Campion decides to stand back up. Campion steps back and let's Dela Cruz get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Campion's waist but Campion gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dela Cruz off to one side.
Dela Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Campion tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dela Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas Campion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Dela Cruz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dela Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Campion pinned against the cage. Campion gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Campion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Campion 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Campion!
Thomas Campion seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.