PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Cruzeiro (ranked 246 p4p, 302 weight class) and Joost Van Buren (ranked 40 p4p, 49 weight class). Cruzeiro comes to the cage accompanied by Linval Thompson - Jah Jah The Conqueror. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cruzeiro
vs
Van Buren

194 cm
28
210
14 - 5 - 0

188 cm
35
206
29 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

PWNAGE
Arcticus University: London

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Cruzeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Joost Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Buren throws a poor cross that misses
and Cruzeiro counters with a straight right hand.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Cruzeiro works Van Buren's body with a nice hook.
Cruzeiro throws a leg kick but Van Buren sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruzeiro throws a leg kick
and Van Buren counters with a leg kick.
Cruzeiro is looking to slow Van Buren down with leg kicks.
Van Buren takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Van Buren slips under a jab.
Nice defenses there by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Buren counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cruzeiro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Van Buren.
Cruzeiro has been working on his boxing with his coaches at []—The Zoo—[] in the buildup to the fight.
Van Buren slips a jab from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cruzeiro moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Buren.
Van Buren has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Buren throws a wild body kick that Cruzeiro sees coming a mile off.
Cruzeiro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Buren ducks under a wild hook from Cruzeiro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruzeiro takes a swing at Van Buren's ribcage but misses.
Van Buren moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruzeiro swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Van Buren keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Van Buren scores with a body shot.
Cruzeiro lands a glancing blow to the side of Van Buren's head.
Cruzeiro feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Burens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cruzeiro connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Van Buren works Cruzeiro's body with a nice hook.
Cruzeiro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Buren.
Van Buren checks a leg kick.
Van Buren is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cruzeiro rather than just go for the knockout.
Van Buren takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Van Buren throws a looping overhand right but Cruzeiro ducks down to avoid it.
Cruzeiro misses with a looping left.
Julio Cruzeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Buren looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruzeiro is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Buren. Van Buren obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Buren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruzeiro misses with a leg kick
and Van Buren counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Julio Cruzeiro has been cut.
A swing and a miss from Cruzeiro.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Buren! But no joy.
Cruzeiro walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Van Buren checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Van Buren looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A left lands for Cruzeiro.
Van Buren throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Buren looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruzeiro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruzeiro lands a nice leg kick that just misses Van Buren's sensitive parts.
Cruzeiro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Van Buren looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cruzeiro takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cruzeiro throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruzeiro misses with a right hand
and Van Buren counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Van Buren lunges at Cruzeiro with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cruzeiro's hand.
Van Buren throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruzeiro scores with a jab.
Van Buren lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Van Buren throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Cruzeiro misses.
Cruzeiro throws a lazy right hand but Van Buren sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Buren bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cruzeiro's head.
Van Buren ducks under a wild hook from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren misses with a kick to the body.
Van Buren throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cruzeiro counters with a head kick. That will keep Van Buren thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Buren throws a big shot that misses.
Cruzeiro misses with a kick to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro misses with an uppercut.
Cruzeiro's corner calls for a 1-2. Cruzeiro obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Van Buren avoids the head kick by Cruzeiro.
Van Buren throws a leg kick but Cruzeiro sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruzeiro looks to land a left hand but Van Buren moved out of range nicely.
Van Buren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruzeiro was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Buren.
Van Buren jabs Cruzeiro to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Van Buren throws the kick towards the body but Cruzeiro avoids it.
Van Buren with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Buren connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Julio Cruzeiro's cut is getting worse.
An inside leg kick lands from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Buren takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cruzeiro slips a straight right by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a jab when Cruzeiro was well out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Cruzeiro misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julio Cruzeiro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruzeiro's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Buren loads up on a big right hand but Cruzeiro slips the punch.
Cruzeiro tests Van Buren's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Buren swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cruzeiro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Buren on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cruzeiro. Cruzeiro obviously looking to wear him down.
Van Buren rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruzeiro counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruzeiro sizes up Van Buren with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A slow jab from Cruzeiro misses its intended target.
Van Buren throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cruzeiro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Van Buren jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cruzeiro looks to land a right hand but Van Buren moved out of range.
It seemed like Van Buren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruzeiro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Van Buren keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cruzeiro lands the left hand.
Van Buren throws a body kick that misses.
Cruzeiro jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Decent striking displayed by Cruzeiro there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cruzeiro.
Van Buren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Buren throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Buren takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cruzeiro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Buren.
Good shot there by Van Buren.
Van Buren staying out of range there.
Van Buren walks into a jab.
Van Buren thuds his right hand into Cruzeiro's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cruzeiro avoids the body shot from Van Buren.
Van Buren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren misses with a left hand
and Cruzeiro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cruzeiro lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Van Buren at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruzeiro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Buren appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro looks to land a left hand but Van Buren moved out of range nicely.
Cruzeiro connects with an inside leg kick.
Van Buren takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Some bone on bone action there as Van Buren checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cruzeiro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruzeiro misses with a wild body shot.
Van Buren throws a looping overhand right but Cruzeiro ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Van Buren.
Van Buren lands a jab to the head.
Van Buren takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cruzeiro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruzeiro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Julio Cruzeiro is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Buren on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Van Buren throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruzeiro swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Van Buren finds it's way through Cruzeiro's defenses.
A bone on bone clash there as Cruzeiro blocks the leg kick.
Cruzeiro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Van Buren takes a step back to recover.
Van Buren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruzeiro manages to avoid it.
Van Buren takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van Buren throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Van Buren bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cruzeiro's head.
Cruzeiro pushes Van Buren away with a front kick.
Van Buren swings for the body but Cruzeiro moves out of range.
Van Buren throws a quick inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Buren. Cruzeiro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruzeiro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Van Buren on the side of the head.
Van Buren swings for the body but Cruzeiro moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Cruzeiro tenderised Van Buren's leg. Van Buren is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruzeiro thuds a left hand into Van Buren's body.
Cruzeiro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruzeiro blocks a jab.
Van Buren on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice jab there from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro blocks a jab.
Cruzeiro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Van Buren blocks a jab.
Van Buren wants to land a leg kick but Cruzeiro is out of range.
Cruzeiro moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruzeiro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Van Buren misses.
As Van Buren backs away, Cruzeiro returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruzeiro blocks a jab.
Cruzeiro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruzeiro connects with a right hand. Van Buren shakes it off.
Cruzeiro lands a jab to the nose.
Van Buren walks into a stiff left hand from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Both fighters circling a little - Cruzeiro finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cruzeiro, as that shot connected.
Van Buren checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Van Buren has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cruzeiro misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cruzeiro.
Good standup being displayed there by Cruzeiro as he connects with a hook.
Van Buren throws a hook but Cruzeiro avoids it easily.
Cruzeiro connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Cruzeiro misses
and Van Buren counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Van Buren's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Van Buren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Van Buren scoring well with a low kick there.
Cruzeiro lands a jab to the head.
Cruzeiro connects with a body shot.
Cruzeiro slips a jab and a cross from Van Buren.
Van Buren moves away from the strike by Cruzeiro.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruzeiro moves away.
Van Buren looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruzeiro is just out of range.
Van Buren moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruzeiro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cruzeiro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cruzeiro misses with a body shot.
Joost Van Buren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro is looking to clinch.
A cross from Cruzeiro lands.
Good standup being displayed there by Van Buren as he connects with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruzeiro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A big left from Cruzeiro misses.
And Van Buren responds with a good body kick, but Cruzeiro manages to step out the way in time.
Van Buren waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruzeiro.
A low kick lands for Cruzeiro.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Buren. Cruzeiro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Buren has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cruzeiro.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cruzeiro. Van Buren shrugs it off though.
Cruzeiro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruzeiro connects with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Van Buren walks into a jab.
Cruzeiro swings widly with a right hand
letting Van Buren counter with a right hand.

Julio Cruzeiro's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Cruzeiro lands with a slapping head kick.
Van Buren walks into a stiff left hand from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro tests Van Buren's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Van Buren missing with a left hand there. Cruzeiro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruzeiro slips under a jab from Van Buren.
A quick step to the side and Cruzeiro tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro throws a sloppy head kick and Van Buren moves out of range easily.
It seemed like Van Buren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Van Buren might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Cruzeiro has got the better of the exchanges.
Van Buren with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cruzeiro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Van Buren.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro throws out a loose jab but Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crunch! Van Buren slams his shin into Cruzeiro's torso.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Buren takes one to the chin there.
Van Buren misses with a straight left.
Van Buren moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A low kick lands for Van Buren.
Nice shot lands for Van Buren.
Van Buren is looking to chop away at Cruzeiro's legs.
Cruzeiro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A leg kick checked by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cruzeiro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Julio Cruzeiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruzeiro misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Van Buren misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Cruzeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruzeiro 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Cruzeiro!
Julio Cruzeiro decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.