PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Cruz (ranked 2046 p4p, 2378 weight class) and Bob Vendarra (ranked 259 p4p, 317 weight class). Vendarra is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Metallica - Of Wolf And Man. 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.

Cruz
vs
Vendarra

190 cm
27
198
10 - 6 - 0

198 cm
37
189
15 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SpeeDee BBQ

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bob Vendarra!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vendarra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vendarra wants it to stay on the feet.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Vendarra cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Ricardo Cruz has been cut.
Vendarra looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Vendarra tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vendarra manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Vendarra was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Vendarra circles away easily
and Vendarra counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Vendarra manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Vendarra counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cruz dives in and grabs Vendarra's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vendarra pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vendarra sprawls well. Vendarra wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vendarra misses with a left hand

so Cruz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vendarra wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Vendarra is keeping him busy.
Vendarra is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him
We've been hearing that Cruz has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vendarra knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vendarra keeps working.
Vendarra looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cruz working over Vendarra with some ground and pound. Vendarra looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vendarra holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Vendarra is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz stalling.
Vendarra is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz is stalling here. Vendarra is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Cruz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vendarra has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Cruz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Vendarra's best efforts.
Vendarra tries to pass to full mount but Cruz defends it.
Vendarra is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cruz trying to control here.
Vendarra wants to pass to mount but Cruz is defending the position.
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.
Vendarra is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Vendarra wants to stand up but Cruz has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vendarra is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cruz is not content to let Vendarra control the position.
Cruz tries to roll over but Vendarra keeps him under control.
Vendarra tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cruz controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Vendarra not doing much here.
Vendarra is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz is staying active underneath Vendarra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cruz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vendarra's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vendarra wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Vendarra looking for a sweep. Not yet Vendarra, not yet.
Cruz pushes down on Vendarra's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bob Vendarra will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Cruz'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.

Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vendarra is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Vendarra circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vendarra avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vendarra swivels and escapes.
Ricardo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vendarra connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vendarra wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vendarra thows a leg kick but Cruz checks it

and Cruz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cruz.
Vendarra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz stops Vendarra from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz trying to control but Vendarra is working from the bottom.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vendarra swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vendarra looking for a sweep. Not yet Vendarra, not yet.

Cruz has gone for a leg lock! Vendarra slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cruz's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vendarra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz is trying to keep Vendarra in close.
Vendarra is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vendarra gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vendarra wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.
Vendarra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vendarra wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Vendarra slips nicely into half guard.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vendarra wants to free his trapped foot but Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Cruz is pressing down on Vendarra's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vendarra is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.

Vendarra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vendarra has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.

Cruz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Vendarra uses it to pass to side control.
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vendarra trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Vendarra controls the position.
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Vendarra keeps moving and retains side control.
Vendarra trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.
Cruz tries to bench press Vendarra off him but Vendarra keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vendarra moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Vendarra tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Cruz manages to get back to half guard.
Vendarra uses his free foot to push down on Cruz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cruz.
Vendarra mounts Cruz! Really nice guard pass there!
Vendarra takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vendarra pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Vendarra has a good base and remains in mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Vendarra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Cruz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cruz tries for a takedown but Vendarra circles away easily
and Vendarra counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Vendarra counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vendarra lands with a straight right. Cruz didn't see that one coming.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Vendarra counters with a nice uppercut.

Cruz is rocked!

Ricardo Cruz's cut is getting worse.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Vendarra.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vendarra lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vendarra throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vendarra stuffs the takedown attempt from Cruz. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Vendarra counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Vendarra to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice body kick there by Vendarra.
Cruz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cruz moves out of range as Vendarra throws a body kick.
Vendarra has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Vendarra cracks Cruz with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Cruz looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Vendarra finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vendarra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vendarra's waist but Vendarra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vendarra drops Cruz with a huge uppercut! Cruz drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Vendarra is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bob Vendarra!
Our winner, Bob Vendarra, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.