PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damian De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De La Cruz's entrance music is Ransom. A fine choice. Damian De La Cruz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

De La Cruz
vs
couture

199 cm
19
290 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damian De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bobby couture!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Bobby couture has been cut.
couture dives in and grabs De La Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. De La Cruz pushes down on couture's head and hops out.

De La Cruz cracks couture with an uppercut from hell and couture crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of De La Cruz's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
couture bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in De La Cruz's guard.
couture working some strikes from top position.
couture lands a couple of elbows.
De La Cruz is looking to stand up but couture isn't so interested in that idea.
couture wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

couture has gone for a leg lock! De La Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into couture's guard.
De La Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz postures up.
De La Cruz throwing strikes from guard but couture blocks nicely.
De La Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
couture is pulling down on De La Cruz's head to control his posture.
couture looks gassed!
couture avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De La Cruz distracts couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
couture looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
couture is trying to control the position but De La Cruz postures up.
De La Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to couture's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De La Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
De La Cruz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
De La Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to couture's brow.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
De La Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

couture had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De La Cruz defends it easily.
De La Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
De La Cruz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from De La Cruz.
couture keeping full guard, as De La Cruz tries to pass.
De La Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
De La Cruz landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of couture's head.
De La Cruz postures up.
De La Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
couture keeping full guard, as De La Cruz tries to pass.
couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

couture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De La Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
De La Cruz throwing strikes from guard but couture blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
De La Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
couture lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
couture dives in and grabs De La Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. De La Cruz pushes down on couture's head and hops out.

couture shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. couture showed some decent athleticism there.
couture trying to pass the guard but De La Cruz defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian De La Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby couture's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

De La Cruz slips a jab and a cross from couture.
couture tries for a takedown but De La Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
De La Cruz shoots and misses

and couture counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in De La Cruz's guard now.
couture trying to control but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
De La Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from couture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
couture wants to pass the guard but De La Cruz is keeping the position.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
De La Cruz could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
couture is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
couture looking to pass the guard.
couture passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
couture passes to full mount! That's big trouble for De La Cruz!
couture tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
couture has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of De La Cruz's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
De La Cruz is squirming around, avoiding couture's attempts to control the action.
couture content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bobby couture's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

couture fails with the takedown

and De La Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
De La Cruz in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
De La Cruz working the body and head with strikes.
De La Cruz is putting a hurting on couture here, landing some big shots from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De La Cruz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear couture down.
De La Cruz scoring with punches and elbows.
Sloppy strikes there by De La Cruz.
couture manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
couture misses with some strikes from the bottom.
De La Cruz misses with a head shot. couture uses the momentum to regain guard.
couture has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

De La Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

couture looking for a guillotine here but De La Cruz defends easily.
couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from De La Cruz.
De La Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for couture on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
De La Cruz works over couture with some ground and pound from guard.
De La Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
De La Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
couture is adopting a defensive guard.
De La Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
couture trying to control the position.
De La Cruz landing with the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
De La Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from couture. couture gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Damian De La Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby couture.
couture misses with a takedown

and De La Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. couture didn't expect that.
De La Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
couture wants to stand up but De La Cruz is controlling him.
De La Cruz with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
couture controls De La Cruz momentarily but De La Cruz frees himself.
couture has momentary wrist control but De La Cruz slips an elbow through the middle.
De La Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
De La Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
couture shoots and misses

and De La Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
couture is looking for a sweep. De La Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De La Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
De La Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
De La Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian De La Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well De La Cruz 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian De La Cruz!