PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Arimatea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Dela Cruz (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.

Arimatea
vs
Dela Cruz

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 The Island, Jose Arimatea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arimatea smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dela Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Arimatea circles away.
Dela Cruz wants to clinch but Arimatea slips to the side

and Arimatea counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Arimatea jumps into guard, dragging Dela Cruz to the mat.

Arimatea has an active guard here but Dela Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Arimatea tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.
Dela Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dela Cruz blocks the strikes from Arimatea.
Dela Cruz wants to stand up but Arimatea has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Dela Cruz prevents Arimatea from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arimatea is staying active underneath Dela Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Arimatea tries to roll over but Dela Cruz keeps him under control.
Dela Cruz is pressing down on Arimatea's thigh, looking to free his foot. Arimatea is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arimatea trying to control but Dela Cruz postures up.
Arimatea is looking for a sweep. Dela Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dela Cruz closes the distance but Arimatea moves to the side
and Arimatea counters with an outside leg kick.
Dela Cruz throws a sloppy head kick

and Arimatea counters by moving into the clinch.
Arimatea is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dela Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arimatea manages to break the clinch.
Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Arimatea, looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz pushes Arimatea against the cage but Arimatea circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dela Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Arimatea shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dela Cruz sprawls well. Dela Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arimatea gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Arimatea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arimatea is breathing heavily.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Arimatea as he avoids it easily.
Dela Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Arimatea shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dela Cruz pinned against the cage. Dela Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Arimatea blocks the body kick.
Arimatea looks to land a right hand but Dela Cruz moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Arimatea pushes him off.
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Arimatea moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Arimatea tries for a takedown but Dela Cruz manages to get underhooks.

Arimatea successfully pulls guard.
Arimatea is trying to control the position but Dela Cruz postures up.
Arimatea knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dela Cruz on the ground.
Arimatea has Dela Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Arimatea keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Arimatea haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dela Cruz is pushing down on Arimatea's leg trying to pass to half guard. Arimatea is fighting to maintain full guard but Dela Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dela Cruz tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Arimatea.
Dela Cruz trying to pass the guard but Arimatea defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arimatea makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Arimatea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dela Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Arimatea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Arimatea dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Arimatea blocks the body kick.
Dela Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arimatea swivels and escapes.
Dela Cruz cracks Arimatea with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Arimatea has a takedown stuffed.
Dela Cruz looks for a takedown but Arimatea sprawls well.
Arimatea dives in and grabs Dela Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz pushes down on Arimatea's head and hops out.
Arimatea displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dela Cruz.
Jose Arimatea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz is looking to clinch but Arimatea is avoiding it.
Dela Cruz tries to clinch up but Arimatea circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arimatea shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dela Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Arimatea looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dela Cruz is fending him off so far but Arimatea persists. Nope, Dela Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arimatea leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dela Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Arimatea has taken the fight into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Arimatea tries to pull guard but Dela Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually Arimatea drops back down to his feet.
Dela Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Arimatea keeps him there for the moment.

Arimatea escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dela Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dela Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Arimatea avoids it really well and circles away.
Dela Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arimatea misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Arimatea shows good takedown defense.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dela Cruz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Arimatea - the referee stops the clock and Dela Cruz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Arimatea. Dela Cruz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arimatea stuffs the takedown attempt from Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Arimatea shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dela Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Dela Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arimatea tries to avoid it but Dela Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arimatea to the ground. Arimatea escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Arimatea fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dela Cruz to the ground. Arimatea is now in Dela Cruz's guard.

Arimatea gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dela Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Arimatea.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz throws a head kick that misses
and Arimatea counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dela Cruz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mark Dela Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arimatea shoots in but no luck this time.
Dela Cruz throws a low kick, looking for Arimatea's leg but Arimatea calmly moves out of range.
Arimatea throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arimatea's waist but Arimatea gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dela Cruz off to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dela Cruz wants to clinch

and Arimatea counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Arimatea.
Dela Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dela Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Arimatea avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arimatea putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dela Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Arimatea lands with a light punch inside.

Arimatea pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Arimatea dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arimatea shoots in for a takedown but Dela Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Arimatea throws a head kick that Dela Cruz semi-blocks.
Dela Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arimatea swivels and escapes.
Dela Cruz tries to clinch there but Arimatea circles away.
Arimatea fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dela Cruz looks for a takedown but Arimatea sprawls well.
Jose Arimatea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dela Cruz.
Nice takedown defense from Arimatea. No joy for Dela Cruz on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Arimatea drives through and clinches with Dela Cruz against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arimatea breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dela Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Arimatea.
Dela Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dela Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dela Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jose Arimatea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arimatea dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dela Cruz. That did some damage!

Arimatea gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dela Cruz can't break the clinch.
Dela Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Arimatea prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arimatea tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dela Cruz wants a takedown.

Arimatea drags the fight down to the ground.
Dela Cruz passes Arimatea's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dela Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Arimatea is staying active underneath Dela Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jose Arimatea overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dela Cruz prevents Arimatea from standing back up.
Arimatea is refusing to be controlled, as Dela Cruz sits in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arimatea wants to improve his position but Dela Cruz is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Arimatea manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dela Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Dela Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arimatea has a hand on Dela Cruz's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Dela Cruz takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Dela Cruz scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Arimatea tries to hold on but Dela Cruz postures up.
Arimatea is squirming around, avoiding Dela Cruz's attempts to control the action.
Arimatea tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dela Cruz looking to control but Arimatea is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arimatea is bucking up trying to escape but Dela Cruz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Dela Cruz.
I think Arimatea has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Arimatea!