PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Rua (ranked 774 p4p, 1787 weight class) and Matt Cruz (ranked 114 p4p, 254 weight class). Rua comes to the cage accompanied by Champion. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rua
vs
Cruz

180 cm
30
184
12 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
170
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Finnish Elite Extreme Science
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sasha Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rua 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.
Cruz slips a straight right by Rua.
Rua misses the jab.
A jab from Rua misses.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua misses with a straight left.
Rua scores with a decent looking hook.
Rua misses the shot to the body.
Cruz throws out a counter right but Rua avoids it with no problem.
Rua swings widly with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sasha Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rua throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
Cruz tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua misses with a straight left.
Rua is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rua throws out the jab.
Rua misses the jab.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Rua's head.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
A big left from Rua misses.
Rua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Rua misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rua misses with a left hand
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua misses with a looping right.
Cruz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Rua dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rua had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Cruz swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Cruz throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Cruz has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a left to the body.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua throws a body shot but no joy.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Rua sets himself, and Cruz steps forward looking for the clinch! Rua avoids it this time.
Sasha Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua misses with a right hand

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cruz.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua.
Rua scores with a shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.
Rua blocks an uppercut.
Rua takes a shot to the head.
Rua blocks a body shot from Cruz.
Rua tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Rua back against the cage.
Cruz tries to break free but Rua pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz blocks an uppercut.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
Cruz throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz drops his hands momentarily and Rua takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua misses with a right hand
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua misses with a right hand
letting Cruz counter with a right hand.
Rua throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruz counters with a nice uppercut.
Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rua lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Cruz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rua looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Rua misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rua throws a right hand that misses
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Rua lands a nice hook to Cruz's body. Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rua connects with the punch.
Rua misses with a hook
enabling Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Rua gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut

and Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Rua.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matt Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz thuds a left hand into Rua's body.
Rua misses with a jab to the body

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rua wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cruz connects with a nice short shot to Rua's temple.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Cruz working over Rua with some ground and pound. Rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Rua on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rua tries to get out of the position.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but Rua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cruz to get the leverage.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Matt Cruz!