PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Johnsom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Adam Johnsom has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Johnsom
vs
De La Cruz

178 cm
26
213 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
19
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Johnsom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gilbert De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnsom closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
De La Cruz is trying to control Johnsom's posture but Johnsom avoids it.

Johnsom thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Johnsom swings around for an armbar but De La Cruz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnsom's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz controlling from the top position.

Johnsom looking for a guillotine here but De La Cruz defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz is looking to stand up but Johnsom won't let him.
De La Cruz trying to control but Johnsom is working from the bottom.
De La Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnsom trying to keep a closed guard but De La Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
De La Cruz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Johnsom is looking for a triangle but De La Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
De La Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnsom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnsom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
De La Cruz works over Johnsom with some ground and pound from guard.
De La Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Johnsom is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De La Cruz trying to control but Johnsom is working from the bottom.

Johnsom is working an open guard so De La Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
De La Cruz lands a high kick!
Johnsom throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De La Cruz's waist but De La Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnsom off to one side.

De La Cruz scores with a takedown into Johnsom's guard.
Johnsom definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Johnsom keeping moving, preventing De La Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz passes Johnsom's left leg - he's now in half guard.
De La Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Johnsom's head.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Well, if De La Cruz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
De La Cruz is pressing down on Johnsom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnsom is holding on for now.
De La Cruz trying to control from half guard but Johnsom is working away.

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.

Johnsom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De La Cruz pulls his head out easily.
De La Cruz passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Johnsom!
Johnsom is trying to reverse the position but instead De La Cruz has taken his back - oops!

De La Cruz is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Johnsom trying to control the action but De La Cruz just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

De La Cruz looking for the choke from the back.
De La Cruz controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De La Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnsom on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnsom's guard now, I'm sure.
De La Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnsom is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

De La Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
De La Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
De La Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Johnsom is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnsom stands up from De La Cruz's guard - Johnsom perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnsom tries to clinch up but De La Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnsom lands a leg kick that knocks De La Cruz off balance momentarily.
Adam Johnsom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz scores with a kick to the midsection.

De La Cruz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnsom!
Johnsom is trying to buck De La Cruz off.
Johnsom sneaks back into half guard.
De La Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
De La Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
De La Cruz working Johnsom over with strikes.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnsom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnsom trying to control here.

Johnsom actively working from the bottom here.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnsom is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnsom might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
De La Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnsom is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnsom manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
De La Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to pass to mount but Johnsom is defending the position.
Johnsom misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Johnsom is trying to maintain the position but De La Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
De La Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnsom keeps working.
De La Cruz wants to pass the guard but Johnsom is defending well.
Johnsom manages to get to full guard.
Gilbert De La Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
De La Cruz wants to control from the top but Johnsom keeps moving.

That's four 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.
De La Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnsom is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

De La Cruz instigates a clinch.
De La Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.

De La Cruz pulls guard.
De La Cruz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnsom looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnsom on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert De La Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnsom ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De La Cruz moves away.
Johnsom misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
De La Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnsom shoots for a double leg takedown but De La Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Johnsom's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Johnsom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De La Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnsom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Johnsom tries to keep at a distance but De La Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De La Cruz has hold of one of Johnsom's legs. Johnsom is fighting the takedown attempt but De La Cruz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De La Cruz is looking to stand up but Johnsom won't let him.
De La Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnsom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
De La Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Johnsom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnsom is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. De La Cruz is aware though and is defending well.

De La Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
De La Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
De La Cruz working Johnsom over with strikes.
De La Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. De La Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Johnsom won't allow De La Cruz to pass to mount.
De La Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
De La Cruz stops Johnsom from getting back to his feet.

De La Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Johnsom defends the submission attempt.

Johnsom is defending against the submission attempts here by De La Cruz.

Johnsom looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Johnsom's head.
De La Cruz trying to control from half guard but Johnsom is working away.
Johnsom is looking for a sweep. De La Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
De La Cruz trying to pass the guard but Johnsom defending well.

De La Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De La Cruz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four 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.
De La Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
De La Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Johnsom defends it.
De La Cruz wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Johnsom uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
De La Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnsom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De La Cruz pushes down on Johnsom's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gilbert De La Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well De La Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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