PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Silvestre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Loyoto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Loyoto Cruz 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!

Silvestre
vs
Cruz

181 cm
21
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Raphael Silvestre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Loyoto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silvestre drives through with a takedown into guard.
Silvestre has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Silvestre seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Silvestre wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Silvestre has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raphael Silvestre just wasn't active enough.

Silvestre clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvestre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silvestre drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz'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.
Cruz wants to break free but Silvestre has control.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Silvestre. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silvestre manages to break the clinch.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silvestre swivels and escapes.
Silvestre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silvestre throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz darts in trying to clinch
and Silvestre counters with a stiff right hand.
Silvestre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silvestre somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silvestre.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz looks gassed!
Silvestre throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silvestre off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvestre throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Silvestre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Silvestre shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Silvestre leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Silvestre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silvestre swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvestre is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Silvestre throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Silvestre rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz fails to pull guard.
Silvestre lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Silvestre lands a nice elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silvestre manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Silvestre dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz shoots in and drives through. Silvestre sprawls well.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Raphael Silvestre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Loyoto Cruz.

Silvestre clinches with his opponent.
Silvestre tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
Silvestre tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.

Silvestre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silvestre stuffs the takedown.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Nice body kick there by Silvestre.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silvestre closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silvestre just stands there and leans against the cage.

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

Silvestre closes the distance and clinches.

Silvestre breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Silvestre on that attempt.

Silvestre closes the distance and clinches.
Silvestre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Silvestre breaks the clinch.
Silvestre scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Silvestre gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Silvestre won't allow it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Silvestre - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Silvestre is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Silvestre.
Silvestre keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silvestre looking for a takedown.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silvestre pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Silvestre drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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 wants to control from the top but Silvestre keeps moving.
Silvestre trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Silvestre is keeping the position.
Cruz trying to control but Silvestre is working from the bottom.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raphael Silvestre just wasn't active enough.
Silvestre shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Silvestre moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silvestre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Silvestre wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Silvestre dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Silvestre has taken the fight to the clinch.

Silvestre manages to break the clinch.

Silvestre moves into the clinch.

Silvestre drags the fight down to the ground.
Silvestre keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Silvestre trying to control the position.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Silvestre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz passes Silvestre's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Silvestre is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Silvestre is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Silvestre wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
Silvestre has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Silvestre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Silvestre is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz stops Silvestre from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is keen to just control but Silvestre is a slippery customer.
Cruz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Silvestre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Loyoto Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Silvestre shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Silvestre's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silvestre shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Silvestre as Cruz shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silvestre.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Silvestre. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silvestre darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.

Silvestre has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cruz is trying to keep an underhook but Silvestre manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Silvestre is pressing down on Cruz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruz is holding on for now.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silvestre wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvestre slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Raphael Silvestre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Silvestre controlling him for the moment.
Silvestre wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Raphael Silvestre.
Silvestre throws a nice head kick!
Loyoto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raphael Silvestre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silvestre was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Silvestre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silvestre 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Silvestre!