PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roderick Cruickshank (ranked 6953 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Dos Santos (ranked 5778 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruickshank
vs
Dos Santos

178 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roderick Cruickshank !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruickshank looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cruickshank misses with a low kick as Dos Santos jumps back.
And Dos Santos tries to counter it with a takedown but Cruickshank pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sloppy strikes from Cruickshank . Those never looked like landing.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Cruickshank avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cruickshank continues to drive forward.
Dos Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruickshank sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dos Santos somewhat.
Dos Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruickshank manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dos Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roderick Cruickshank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Dos Santos.

Cruickshank shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dos Santos manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Cruickshank drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruickshank jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruickshank stopping the sweep attempt from Dos Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Cruickshank from controlling successfully.
Dos Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dos Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruickshank controls the pace.
Cruickshank scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruickshank postures up and lands a big shot to Dos Santos's brow.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Cruickshank from controlling successfully.
Cruickshank throwing strikes from guard but Dos Santos blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruickshank is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Dos Santos clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Cruickshank to work.
Cruickshank jumps guard but Dos Santos stands there with Cruickshank around his waist. Cruickshank gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Cruickshank has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dos Santos uses from the top position.
Cruickshank wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruickshank looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Dos Santos stands and steps away. Cruickshank gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cruickshank closes the distance and clinches.
Dos Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruickshank fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cruickshank tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruickshank is just out of range.

Cruickshank closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cruickshank is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cruickshank throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Dos Santos works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to control Cruickshank 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dos Santos avoid being mounted?
Cruickshank passes into side control, despite Dos Santos's attempt to control the position.
Dos Santos tries to buck Cruickshank off but Cruickshank is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruickshank trying to control the action but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Cruickshank wants to stand but Dos Santos is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roderick Cruickshank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Dos Santos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruickshank darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos wants to control but Cruickshank is keeping busy.
Cruickshank controlling the action here.
Dos Santos wants to control but Cruickshank is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos is staying active underneath Cruickshank , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruickshank wants to free his trapped foot but Dos Santos is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cruickshank not doing much here.
Cruickshank wants to stand up but Dos Santos has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Dos Santos wants to control but Cruickshank is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

Cruickshank throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Dos Santos tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruickshank is in Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruickshank controls the pace.
Cruickshank trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruickshank would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Cruickshank in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruickshank tries to free his leg and advance position but Dos Santos is retaining full guard.
Dos Santos trying to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruickshank engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

Cruickshank moves into range and clinches up with Dos Santos.
Cruickshank is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
Dos Santos jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruickshank walks away with a smile on his face. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos throws a head kick but Cruickshank moves out of range.

Cruickshank changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dos Santos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cruickshank staying calm.
Dos Santos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruickshank controlling the pace.
Dos Santos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dos Santos working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dos Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruickshank defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roderick Cruickshank dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Dos Santos's cut.
That's time! Cruickshank 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cruickshank closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cruickshank manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cruickshank keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.
Dos Santos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cruickshank haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Dos Santos is looking to pass into half guard but Cruickshank pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cruickshank is in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruickshank cracks Dos Santos with a solid left hand.

Dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Cruickshank pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruickshank gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dos Santos trying to control the position.
Cruickshank looking to pass the guard.
Cruickshank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruickshank 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two 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.
Cruickshank postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.
Dos Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruickshank is one step ahead there.
Cruickshank is pushing down on Dos Santos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dos Santos is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruickshank has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cruickshank wants to stand up but Dos Santos is controlling the position.
Dos Santos wants to control but Cruickshank is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Roderick Cruickshank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruickshank keeps the fight on the outside.
Dos Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruickshank swivels and escapes.
Dos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Cruickshank moves out of range.

Cruickshank gets a clinch.
Dos Santos is trying to pull guard but Cruickshank turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cruickshank stalls.

Cruickshank has hold of one of Dos Santos's legs. Dos Santos is fighting the takedown attempt but Cruickshank gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruickshank .
Cruickshank is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruickshank tries to free his leg and advance position but Dos Santos is retaining full guard.
Cruickshank controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cruickshank postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruickshank throws a big counter combination but Dos Santos scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Roderick Cruickshank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Dos Santos.
Cruickshank throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rodrigo Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roderick Cruickshank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dos Santos has a takedown stuffed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roderick Cruickshank showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruickshank 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roderick Cruickshank !