PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Furio Spartan (ranked 4472 p4p, 1641 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 506 p4p, 230 weight class). Spartan comes to the cage accompanied by This is Sparta. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Spartan
vs
Cruz

187 cm
39
194
21 - 14 - 1

190 cm
26
198
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Furio Spartan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spartan tries to clinch up.

Spartan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cruz won't allow Spartan to sweep him here.

Spartan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spartan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cruz working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spartan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Spartan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spartan is keeping the position for now.
Spartan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spartan is trying to keep Cruz in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spartan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spartan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

Spartan postures up.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spartan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spartan content to stall in guard here.
Spartan wants to stand but Cruz is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz working for a triangle but Spartan defends it easily.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spartan defends well.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spartan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Spartan wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Spartan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spartan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spartan is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Spartan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Spartan is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Spartan's guard.

Spartan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spartan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Spartan forces Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
Spartan lands a left hand.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spartan smiles and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Spartan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spartan wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Cruz is trying to control Spartan's posture but Spartan avoids it.
Spartan moves into full mount!
Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Spartan trying to control but Cruz is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Furio Spartan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spartan leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Spartan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Spartan is controlling well.
Spartan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cruz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spartan is working away from the top position though.
Cruz is not content to let Spartan control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.
Spartan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Spartan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Spartan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Spartan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cruz trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Furio Spartan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Spartan content just to control the position here.
Spartan trying to control but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Spartan isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spartan is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Spartan tries to clinch there but Cruz circles away.
Spartan stuffs the takedown.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Spartan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Furio Spartan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Cruz.
A left and a right from Spartan both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Ricardo Cruz has been cut.

Spartan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spartan prevents Cruz from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spartan tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Spartan is looking for a kimura here.
Spartan passes into side control, despite Cruz's attempt to control the position.
Cruz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Spartan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Spartan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Spartan eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spartan moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Cruz.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Cruz is trying to control Spartan's posture but Spartan avoids it.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Spartan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spartan manages to get to full guard.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Furio Spartan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Spartan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Spartan's guard.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Spartan controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Spartan wants to sweep but no luck.
Spartan keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Spartan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Spartan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Spartan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spartan wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Spartan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spartan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Spartan has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spartan looking to pass the guard.
Spartan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cruz is looking for a triangle here but Spartan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.

Spartan decides to stand back up. Spartan steps back and let's Cruz get back to his feet.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
Spartan wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz won't allow Spartan to pass to mount.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back.

Spartan is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.

Spartan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Spartan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Spartan sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spartan trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.

Spartan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Spartan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spartan defends well.
Spartan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Cruz is trying to keep Spartan in close.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spartan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spartan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Cruz is tightening it up a little... Spartan has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Spartan reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Spartan taps out! Nice BJJ there by Cruz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ricardo Cruz!