PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Krisko Kurtev (ranked 445 p4p, 494 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 60 p4p, 67 weight class). Krisko Kurtev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kurtev
vs
Cruz

189 cm
38
193
33 - 34 - 1

190 cm
39
198
21 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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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 33 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Krisko Kurtev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurtev instigates a clinch.

Kurtev turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kurtev manages to end up in side control.
Kurtev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurtev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kurtev wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Kurtev tries to score with some ground and pound. Cruz controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kurtev.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kurtev trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurtev.
Cruz tries to roll over but Kurtev keeps him under control.
Cruz is trying to control but can't.
Cruz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kurtev wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Kurtev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kurtev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurtev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kurtev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to sweep but instead, Kurtev has passed into half guard.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cruz taking some punishment here, with Kurtev in his half guard.
Cruz is looking to get back to full guard here but Kurtev has managed to pass to side control instead.
Kurtev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cruz dodges the ground and pound from Kurtev.
Kurtev throws a strike aimed at the side of Cruz's head but Cruz avoids it well.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.
Cruz has hold of Kurtev's hands but Kurtev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurtev.
Cruz trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kurtev manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz tries to hold on but Kurtev postures up.
Cruz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kurtev lands a big shot there that rocks Cruz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Kurtev has a good base and remains in mount.
Kurtev raining down hammerfists from mount.
Cruz taking shots to the head.

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Kurtev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurtev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kurtev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Kurtev there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Kurtev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurtev.
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!
Kurtev wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Cruz wants to control but Kurtev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Kurtev has control of the leg.
Kurtev working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kurtev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kurtev wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
Kurtev prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Cruz keeps trying to improve his position.

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Krisko Kurtev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cruz postures up.
Cruz won't allow Kurtev to sweep him here.
Cruz forces his way into half guard.
Kurtev wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
Kurtev landing rabbit punches to the side of Cruz's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

Kurtev looking for submissions off his back.
Kurtev is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtev trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
Kurtev wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cruz seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kurtev is holding on tight.
Cruz looking to control but Kurtev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cruz blocks Kurtev's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cruz lands with some strikes.

Cruz quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Cruz but it's paid off an Kurtev is forced to tap! Nice work by Cruz.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Cruz!