PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johny Vargas (ranked 2625 p4p, 258 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 1913 p4p, 200 weight class). Vargas kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Drake - Trophies. Ricardo Cruz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Johny Vargas's chin.

Vargas
vs
Cruz

174 cm
29
157 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

181 cm
27
165 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Aspire Nutrition

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vargas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cruz manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Vargas keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
I was talking to Vargas's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vargas.
Cruz lands a nice elbow.
Vargas avoiding damage as Cruz throws knees to the body.

Vargas breaks from the clinch.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vargas defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Vargas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ricardo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vargas swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Vargas feinted with a counter takedown.
Vargas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vargas is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz looking to slow down the pace here.
Cruz tries to stall but Vargas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Vargas throws an elbow that misses.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vargas is working for takedown but Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Vargas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vargas is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cruz pulls Vargas into guard.

Cruz working for a triangle but Vargas defends it easily.
Cruz being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Vargas stops Cruz from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vargas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vargas is pushing down on Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Vargas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vargas trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Vargas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Vargas is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vargas in particular looking to stall.
Vargas working Cruz over with strikes.
Vargas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cruz taking some punishment here, with Vargas in his half guard.
Vargas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Vargas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vargas drops an elbow to the side of Cruz's head.
Still in half guard, Vargas seems content to control.
Cruz taking some punishment here, with Vargas in his half guard.
Still in half guard, Vargas seems content to control.
Vargas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruz has hold of Vargas's hands but Vargas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vargas in particular looking to stall.

Vargas is working for a submission of some sort.
Vargas not doing much here.
Vargas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vargas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Vargas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vargas shoots in and bounces Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vargas wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Vargas distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Vargas looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vargas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Vargas won't let him.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Cruz postures up.
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.
Vargas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vargas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vargas cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Vargas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vargas tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Vargas content to stall in guard here.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Vargas from controlling successfully.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Vargas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas with a nice head shot there.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Vargas from controlling successfully.
Vargas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vargas content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Vargas in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Vargas working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas looks up at the clock and then as Cruz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vargas smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cruz is not content to let Vargas control the position.

Vargas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vargas lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cruz down.
Vargas scoring with punches and elbows.
Vargas scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Vargas control the position.
Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Vargas working the ground and pound from side control.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Vargas working the body and head with strikes.
Vargas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Cruz is rocked!
Vargas lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cruz is still in real trouble! Can Vargas finish him?
Vargas working the ground and pound.
Vargas in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Vargas cracks Cruz with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Vargas immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Cruz is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Vargas!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johny Vargas!
An out of breath Johny Vargas thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.