PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Warren Franco (ranked 25416 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nilton Cruz (ranked 4091 p4p, 0 weight class). Warren Franco has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Franco
vs
Cruz

214 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

193 cm
25
249 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Warren Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nilton Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cruz won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Franco wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stays in close to Franco's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Franco gets caught flat footed, as Cruz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cruz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cruz stops Franco from standing up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Franco trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Franco closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cruz did well to prevent Franco getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cruz gets full guard.

Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

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

Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Franco on his heels. He'll look to pass Franco's guard now, I'm sure.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cruz taking a breather here.
Franco is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
The referee asks Cruz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cruz prefers to stall for the moment though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Franco is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nilton Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Franco looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cruz!
Cruz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cruz is doing well to control the position and prevent Franco from advancing to side control.
Cruz tries to kick Franco off but Franco keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cruz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Franco working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franco landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco throws a strike but Cruz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is controlling Cruz's trapped leg to prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
Franco is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.
Franco is looking to escape.

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.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nilton Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz advances to half guard.
Franco tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz controlling the action here.
Franco is trying to stand.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Cruz seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Franco is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nilton Cruz!
Nilton Cruz thanked the fans post fight for their support.