PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Morello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morello has chosen Tubthumping - i Get Knocked Down as his entrance music. Tom Morello told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cruz
vs
Morello

180 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcos Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Morello!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morello throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Morello.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Morello.
Danga de danga de dang - Morello scores with a four punch combination!
Morello stuffs the takedown.
Tom Morello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morello throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
A right-left combo lands from Morello.
Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Morello sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morello throws a right and a left that both miss.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cruz misses with the ground and pound.
Cruz cracks Morello with a big elbow.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Morello has escaped the position, nice work there.

Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Morello is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Cruz tries to move into full mount but can't pass Morello's legs.
Cruz postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Morello tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Morello prevents Cruz from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morello takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Morello, who protects the arm well.
Morello is not content to let Cruz control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Morello wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morello can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Morello throws Cruz to one side and escapes!
Morello misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Morello.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nice sprawl there from Morello as Cruz shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcos Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morello is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Morello circles away and we're back to standing.
Morello misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morello looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Morello sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Morello, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morello misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Morello does no damage.
No joy there for Morello, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Morello looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Morello scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Some wild striking there from Morello.
Morello misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morello misses with a two punch combination.
Morello fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Morello will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A combination from Morello does no damage.
Morello keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morello rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Morello misses with a few strikes there.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Morello.
Morello misses with a wild combination.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Morello circles away.
Morello lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Morello.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morello swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcos Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Morello.
Morello lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Morello moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Morello throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morello tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marcos Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morello misses with a few strikes there.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Morello displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Morello. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Tom Morello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morello misses with a wild combination.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Morello won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morello keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Morello is looking to escape.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cruz wants to work for an arm triangle but Morello is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Morello is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Morello misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Morello lands a two punch combo.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A punch combination from Morello misses.
Morello tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Morello pinned against the cage. Morello gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Morello throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Morello looks to land a combination but Cruz avoids it well.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Morello.
A punch combination from Morello misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Morello throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Morello moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Morello lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Morello misses with the combination.

Cruz shoots in and bounces Morello off the cage to secure the takedown into 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.

Cruz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Morello looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Morello looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Morello!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Morello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Morello stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.
Morello throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Morello moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Morello which made him look bad.
Morello throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Morello throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morello throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcos Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Morello does no damage.
Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Morello sees it coming and defends easily.
Morello wants to get back to his feet.
Cruz uses his free foot to push down on Morello's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Morello.
Morello is squirming around, avoiding Cruz's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
You get the feeling that Morello really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz stands up from mount. Strange move.
Morello misses with the combination.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morello swivels and escapes.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Morello throws a right and a left that Cruz avoids nicely.
Morello is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Morello sprawls well.
Morello stuffs the takedown.
Morello misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morello scores with a one two! Cruz had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Morello throws a right and a left that both miss.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Morello wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Morello keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz pushes down on Morello's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Morello is defending the position.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Morello!

Cruz working for a guillotine from mount but Morello is in no mood to give up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcos Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morello 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!