PBP Commentary

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

De La Cruz
vs
Trezeguet

193 cm
23
205 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

193 cm
42
220 lbs
27 - 51 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gilbert De La Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 51 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Trezeguet!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trezeguet throws a leg kick which misses De La Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as De La Cruz tries to avoid it.
De La Cruz misses with a takedown attempt

and Trezeguet counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
De La Cruz is looking for a takedown.

Trezeguet has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed De La Cruz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
What can De La Cruz do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
De La Cruz tries to break free.
Trezeguet trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure De La Cruz doesn't escape.
Trezeguet scores with punches and elbows.
Trezeguet is riding his opponent, not letting De La Cruz buck him off.
Trezeguet keeps control of the position as De La Cruz tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
De La Cruz is in bad spot here.
De La Cruz is keeping busy.
De La Cruz rolls, trying to escape but Trezeguet keeps control of the position.
Trezeguet really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for De La Cruz.
I really don't envy De La Cruz right now.
De La Cruz is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trezeguet trying to control momentarily.
Trezeguet controlling the position well here. De La Cruz rolled but Trezeguet kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
De La Cruz turns into Trezeguet and is now in his guard.
Trezeguet is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
De La Cruz forces his way into half guard.
Trezeguet is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute De La Cruz jumps into side control!

De La Cruz tries for a kimura but Trezeguet is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De La Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De La Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Trezeguet is defending well.

De La Cruz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Trezeguet has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for De La Cruz but great work by Trezeguet.
Trezeguet trying to control the position but De La Cruz is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Trezeguet is trying to control. De La Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

De La Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Trezeguet with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Trezeguet passes to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trezeguet controlling the position from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Trezeguet dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

De La Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Trezeguet fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and De La Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
De La Cruz checks a leg kick.

De La Cruz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Trezeguet on his heels. He'll look to pass Trezeguet's guard now, I'm sure.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Trezeguet can do anything to dispel that myth.

De La Cruz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Trezeguet dives on top into guard.

De La Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
De La Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Trezeguet manages to get himself to full guard.

De La Cruz has gone for a leg lock! Trezeguet slips out almost immediately though and dives into De La Cruz's guard.

Trezeguet tries to free his leg and advance position but De La Cruz is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trezeguet is still trying to improve position.

De La Cruz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Trezeguet escapes and throws De La Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Trezeguet takes a little break here. De La Cruz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
De La Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Trezeguet slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Trezeguet wants to control but De La Cruz is keeping him busy.
Trezeguet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with De La Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
De La Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
De La Cruz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

De La Cruz actively working from the bottom here.

De La Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Trezeguet moves nicely into side control.
The referee asks Trezeguet politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Trezeguet prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trezeguet wants to lay and pray for a moment but De La Cruz keeps working.
De La Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Trezeguet lands a nice forearm strike.
Trezeguet lands an elbow.
De La Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
De La Cruz is being controlled here.
Trezeguet trying to control the action but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
De La Cruz is letting Trezeguet control him for a moment.
De La Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Trezeguet off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De La Cruz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Trezeguet defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

De La Cruz is looking for the choke from the back position but Trezeguet is controlling his hands well.

De La Cruz is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

De La Cruz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
David Trezeguet has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

De La Cruz is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Trezeguet knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Trezeguet for a finish.
Trezeguet can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Trezeguet will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Trezeguet swings away with a leg kick that misses.
De La Cruz blocks a leg kick.
A low kick from Trezeguet is predictable there

and De La Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Trezeguet has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Trezeguet defends it well.
Trezeguet wants to improve his position but De La Cruz is controlling well.

De La Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Trezeguet defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz is stalling here. Trezeguet is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! De La Cruz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Trezeguet has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trezeguet scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at De La Cruz to see if he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trezeguet controls the position.
De La Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
De La Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Trezeguet moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
De La Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Trezeguet.

De La Cruz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Trezeguet manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now De La Cruz has Trezeguet in his guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Trezeguet chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De La Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Trezeguet gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Trezeguet 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.

De La Cruz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

De La Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Trezeguet trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trezeguet landing some decent shots from guard.
De La Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet De La Cruz, not yet.
Trezeguet is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Trezeguet trying to control the position from guard on top but De La Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Trezeguet got a little sloppy there for a moment and De La Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Trezeguet has managed to get both his arms back between De La Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Trezeguet engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
De La Cruz keeping moving, preventing Trezeguet from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Trezeguet is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
De La Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Trezeguet pinned against the cage. Trezeguet gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De La Cruz misses with a takedown
and Trezeguet makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An inside leg kick lands from Trezeguet.
Gilbert De La Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Trezeguet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Trezeguet connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Trezeguet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Trezeguet 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Trezeguet!
David Trezeguet tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.