PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaue Mota Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mota Cruz
vs
Rua

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kaue Mota 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, Felipe Rua!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Mota Cruz.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Mota Cruz.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mota Cruz. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mota Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mota Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Mota Cruz can't get the takedown.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua throws a head kick but Mota Cruz moves out of range.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Mota Cruz sprawls well.
Rua tries to clinch but Mota Cruz is having none of it.
Mota Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rua looks for a takedown but Mota Cruz sprawls well.
Mota Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mota Cruz but Mota Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaue Mota Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Rua.
Mota Cruz jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Mota Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A shot to the liver by Mota Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Mota Cruz throws a hook but Rua blocks it.
Rua leaves Mota Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mota Cruz!
Kaue Mota Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mota Cruz misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Mota Cruz misses.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Mota Cruz misses the target.
Mota Cruz misses with an uppercut. Rua saw that one coming.
Mota Cruz misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Rua.
Mota Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mota Cruz slips under a jab.
Rua leaves Mota Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mota Cruz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mota Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mota Cruz defends it nicely.
Rua looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mota Cruz throws a one two combo.
Mota Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Mota Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Mota Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Mota Cruz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mota Cruz.
Mota Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Rua's shoulder, as Rua tries to avoid the shot.
Rua is trying desperately to land a takedown but Mota Cruz is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rua.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mota Cruz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Horrible takedown by Mota Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Rua tries to clinch up but Mota Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mota Cruz sprawls well. Mota Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mota Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mota Cruz wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mota Cruz trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Mota Cruz wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaue Mota Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mota Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.

Mota Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rua did well to prevent Mota Cruz getting side control.
Mota Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.
Mota Cruz stalling away here and it's allowed Rua to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mota Cruz is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mota Cruz wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Mota Cruz preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua pulls Mota Cruz in close to prevent any damage.

Mota Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mota Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mota Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mota Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Mota Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Rua sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
Mota Cruz tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Mota Cruz tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but Mota Cruz won't allow it.
Mota Cruz is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz throws an elbow but it misses.
Rua looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mota Cruz wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaue Mota Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua jumps into guard, dragging Mota Cruz to the mat.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mota Cruz defends it easily.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rua controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mota Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rua's guard.
Rua is holding on to half guard well.
Mota Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kaue Mota Cruz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mota Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Mota Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mota Cruz works the jab nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Mota Cruz as Rua shoots in.
Mota Cruz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rua tries for a takedown but Mota Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kaue Mota Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Rua.
Mota Cruz throws a hook but Rua blocks it.
Mota Cruz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mota Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.
Mota Cruz misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Rua moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mota Cruz.
Rua takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mota Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mota Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Rua.
Mota Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mota Cruz swivels and escapes.
Mota Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rua.
Nice shot lands for Mota Cruz.
Rua gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kaue Mota Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Mota Cruz moves out of range easily.
Mota Cruz throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mota Cruz here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Mota Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Rua moves away and avoids it.
Mota Cruz is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Rua takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mota Cruz avoids a kick to the body.
Mota Cruz scores with a nice strike.
Mota Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Mota Cruz avoids the head kick by Rua.
Mota Cruz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rua has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mota Cruz circles away.
Mota Cruz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mota Cruz throws a series of strikes that have Rua backpedaling.
Mota Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mota Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.
Mota Cruz swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for Mota Cruz on that attempt.
Rua's corner calls for a 1-2. Rua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mota Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rua wants to clinch up but Mota Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Mota Cruz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rua moves forwards but Mota Cruz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Mota Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mota Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mota Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mota Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rua slips under a jab from Mota Cruz.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mota Cruz lands a jab to the head.
Mota Cruz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Felipe Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mota Cruz misses with a straight right.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaue Mota Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mota Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaue Mota Cruz!