PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Vincent Dela Cruz (ranked 2088 p4p, 1739 weight class) and Hugo Stotts (ranked 232 p4p, 196 weight class). Dela Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by This is the Moment. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Dela Cruz
vs
Stotts

195 cm
23
265
8 - 6 - 0

199 cm
24
270
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

The Dirty Needle Project

SynCity Fightwear
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Art Vincent Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hugo Stotts!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stotts clinches.
Dela Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown.
Stotts digs a right hand into Dela Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dela Cruz's gas tank.
Stotts is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dela Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stotts fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Art Vincent Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stotts misses with a double jab.
Dela Cruz misses with a straight left.
Stotts lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Stotts takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Hugo Stotts has been cut.

Stotts forces Dela Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dela Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stotts pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A hook to the body from Stotts.
Stotts throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dela Cruzs head.
Stotts digs a right hand underneath Dela Cruz's ribcage. Dela Cruz let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dela Cruz is breathing heavily.
Stotts scores with a shoulder strike.

Stotts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Dela Cruz misses the target.
Dela Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Stotts ducks down to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Stotts has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Dela Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Nice defenses there by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz misses with a straight left.
Dela Cruz misses with a looping left.
Stotts is looking for the big counter here.

Dela Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Stotts. Stotts maintains the clinch.
Dela Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stotts gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stotts misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz blocks a body shot from Stotts.
Stotts controlling the action here for a moment.

Stotts breaks from the clinch.

Stotts has closed the distance and engaged Dela Cruz in a clinch.
Stotts makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dela Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stotts is defending well.
Stotts lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dela Cruz.
Stotts stops a takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.

Stotts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Art Vincent Dela Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stotts clinches up with Dela Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Stotts works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stotts lands a body shot.
A short right from Stotts.
Dela Cruz is working for takedown but Stotts is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stotts lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Stotts breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stotts gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stotts lands a nice shot to the body.

Stotts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stotts fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dela Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Stotts makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Stotts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stotts has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dela Cruz has Stotts pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stotts manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stotts is working Dela Cruz over against the cage.
Stotts lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Stotts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stotts drops Dela Cruz with a nice combination! Stotts dives into Dela Cruz's guard, looking to finish!

It looks like Art Vincent Dela Cruz has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stotts showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz is looking for a triangle but Stotts pushes his legs off easily.

Dela Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stotts defends it easily.
Stotts sitting in guard here, content to control.

Dela Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stotts defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Stotts dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dela Cruz drops Stotts with a left and a right! Oh, Stotts is hurt - Dela Cruz dives into side control looking to finish!

Dela Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stotts knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Dela Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stotts knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Stotts is looking for a sweep.

Dela Cruz tries for a kimura but Stotts is defending well.
Stotts really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dela Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stotts looking for a sweep but Dela Cruz has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Dela Cruz is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Stotts has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Dela Cruz looking for a guillotine from mount but Stotts is having none of it.
Stotts wants to control but Dela Cruz is having none of it.

Dela Cruz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stotts can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to control the pace but Stotts is squirming around nicely.

Dela Cruz is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Stotts has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Stotts!
Stotts must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dela Cruz keeping full guard, as Stotts tries to pass.
Stotts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stotts has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dela Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stotts passes into side control.
Dela Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Dela Cruz's face as Stotts controls the position.
Let's hope that Stotts has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Stotts tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Dela Cruz tries to bench press Stotts off him but Stotts keeps the position.
Art Vincent Dela Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stotts trying to control the action but Dela Cruz is working from the bottom.
Stotts is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Dela Cruz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Stotts.
Dela Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
Dela Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Stotts controlling the position well.

Dela Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stotts sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dela Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Art Vincent Dela Cruz dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dela Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stotts uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dela Cruz.
Stotts defending well as Dela Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Dela Cruz lands a glancing blow to the side of Stotts's head.
Dela Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dela Cruz changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A left and a right from Dela Cruz both land. Nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stotts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dela Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stotts is defending well.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stotts gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stotts lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dela Cruz backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz takes a shot to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stotts.
Dela Cruz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Art Vincent Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stotts pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stotts lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from Stotts.
Dela Cruz is trying to drag Stotts to the mat but Stotts just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stotts is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Stotts.

Stotts breaks from the clinch.
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stotts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dela Cruz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stotts pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dela Cruz misses with an uppercut. Stotts saw that one coming.
Dela Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stotts circles away.
Dela Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Stotts breaks from the clinch.

Stotts moves into range and clinches up with Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz looking for a takedown.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown.
Stotts's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Stotts.
Stotts lands an uppercut.

Stotts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stotts rushes Dela Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Stotts to work.
Stotts lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dela Cruz backwards.
Stotts is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stotts displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dela Cruz up against the cage.
Dela Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stotts is struggling to control the position.
Hugo Stotts seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stotts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stotts gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stotts holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown.
Stotts lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dela Cruz blocks a body shot from Stotts.

Stotts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stotts looks to land a combination but Dela Cruz avoids it well.
Stotts uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dela Cruz.
A jab lands there for Dela Cruz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Stotts. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Stotts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stotts has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Stotts!
A determined Hugo Stotts didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!