PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Cruzeiro (ranked 85 p4p, 163 weight class) and Joost Van Buren (ranked 14 p4p, 30 weight class). Cruzeiro comes to the cage accompanied by Linval Thompson - Jah Jah The Conqueror. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Cruzeiro
vs
Van Buren

194 cm
30
210
19 - 6 - 0

188 cm
37
206
34 - 18 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Savage Fightwear

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 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Cruzeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Joost Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Buren tries to clinch there but Cruzeiro circles away.
Cruzeiro is looking to counter punch.
Van Buren misses with a body kick.
Van Buren throws a looping overhand right but Cruzeiro ducks down to avoid it.
Van Buren blocks a low kick nicely.
A nice side step and Van Buren releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cruzeiro with a nice cross.
Van Buren checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cruzeiro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Van Buren misses with a looping right.
Cruzeiro throws a shot from downtown. Van Buren moves away and avoids it.
Van Buren connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cruzeiro's hands.

It looks like Julio Cruzeiro has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren throws a looping overhand right but Cruzeiro ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Van Buren - just one landing.
Van Buren lands a front kick.
Cruzeiro staying out of range there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Van Buren has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cruzeiro's corner calls for a 1-2. Cruzeiro obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Van Buren with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cruzeiro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cruzeiro was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice cross by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a one two combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Buren stuns Cruzeiro with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Cruzeiro misses its intended target.
Cruzeiro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruzeiro avoids the head kick by Van Buren.
Decent striking displayed by Cruzeiro there.
Van Buren connects with a leg kick.
Cruzeiro misses with an uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Van Buren throws a hook but Cruzeiro avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Cruzeiro.
Van Buren misses with a straight right.
Van Buren tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruzeiro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruzeiro walks into a stiff left hand from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren thuds his shin into the meat of Cruzeiro's side.
Cruzeiro thuds a left hand into Van Buren's body.
Van Buren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruzeiro loads up on a big right hand but Van Buren slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a lazy right hand but Cruzeiro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Buren misses with a left hand
and Cruzeiro counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruzeiro checks a leg kick.
Cruzeiro half committed to a counter leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Buren gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Cruzeiro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cruzeiro. That's going to slow Van Buren down.
Van Buren misses with an uppercut. Cruzeiro saw that one coming.
Van Buren throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Cruzeiro counters with a good low kick that Van Buren was not able to check.
Van Buren takes a swing at Cruzeiro's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joost Van Buren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruzeiro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Van Buren connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cruzeiro momentarily.
Cruzeiro throws a body shot but no joy.

Cruzeiro clinches up against the cage.
Cruzeiro swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruzeiro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cruzeiro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Buren makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Van Buren lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Buren gets through Cruzeiro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cruzeiro works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruzeiro tries to work over Van Buren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruzeiro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Van Buren takes a shot to the head.
Van Buren tries to circle away but Cruzeiro has him pinned against the cage.
Cruzeiro scores with a shot to the side of Van Buren's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruzeiro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Cruzeiro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cruzeiro as Van Buren tries to tie him up.
Cruzeiro gets through Van Buren's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Buren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cruzeiro's elbow.
Cruzeiro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cruzeiro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cruzeiro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cruzeiro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cruzeiro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Buren blocks a body shot from Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Buren working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cruzeiro swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruzeiro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Van Buren stalling.
Van Buren's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Good body shot from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cruzeiro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cruzeiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruzeiro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cruzeiro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Van Buren is breathing heavily.
Van Buren wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruzeiro won't allow it.
Van Buren throws an elbow that misses.
A short right from Cruzeiro on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cruzeiro.
Van Buren misses with some punches.

Cruzeiro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Buren scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Van Buren is looking to land body kicks.
Van Buren misses with a kick to the body.
Cruzeiro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruzeiro moves away.
Van Buren looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro slips under a jab.
Decent striking displayed by Cruzeiro there.
Van Buren tries to land a body kick
and Cruzeiro counters with a nice uppercut.
Cruzeiro fakes the leg kick and cracks Van Buren in the body.
Van Buren rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruzeiro counters with a straight right hand.
Cruzeiro sizes up Van Buren with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A shot to the liver by Cruzeiro. Beautiful body shot.
Cruzeiro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Buren. That did some damage!
Cruzeiro pushes Van Buren away with a front kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Cruzeiro.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruzeiro scores with a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Cruzeiro blocks the leg kick.
Cruzeiro explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Van Buren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Nice body kick from Cruzeiro.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruzeiro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruzeiro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cruzeiro with the inside leg kick.
Cruzeiro blocks a jab.
Cruzeiro jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Cruzeiro.
Van Buren's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cruzeiro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Buren.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cruzeiro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cruzeiro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Buren looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruzeiro misses with the body kick
enabling Van Buren to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruzeiro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Buren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A leg kick checked by Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro is looking to counter punch.
Nice body kick from Van Buren.
Cruzeiro throws a leg kick but Van Buren sees it coming and moves out of range.
Van Buren throws a leg kick but Cruzeiro sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruzeiro appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruzeiro lands a jab to the head.
Cruzeiro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Buren. Van Buren circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Van Buren throws a body punch but Cruzeiro moves out of range.
Cruzeiro misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruzeiro doesn't seem bothered though.
Van Buren gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Van Buren misses with a straight left.
Cruzeiro seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cruzeiro throws the left hand but Van Buren avoids the punch easily.
Van Buren throws a body punch but Cruzeiro moves out of range.
Van Buren checks a low kick from Cruzeiro.
Van Buren looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruzeiro lands a jab to Van Buren's midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruzeiro throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Van Buren cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro misses with a straight left.
Cruzeiro scores with a hook to the body. Van Buren takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cruzeiro lands an overhand right.
Van Buren misses with a lunging right hand

and Cruzeiro counters with a crisp right hand that drops Van Buren! Cruzeiro lets Van Buren back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Van Buren is rocked!
Cruzeiro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Buren can do to turn this around?
Van Buren misses with a hook.
Jab, jab by Cruzeiro - just one landing.
Van Buren is still on wobbly legs! Can Cruzeiro finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruzeiro blocks a head kick by Van Buren.
Cruzeiro slips under a jab.
Van Buren seems to have recovered his senses.
Van Buren throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruzeiro attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Van Buren tries to counter by closing the distance.
Van Buren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Buren throws an off balance right hand
and Cruzeiro makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Van Buren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruzeiro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cruzeiro looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Cruzeiro swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Buren.
Van Buren misses the shot to the body.
Cruzeiro scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Cruzeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruzeiro 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Cruzeiro!
An out of breath Julio Cruzeiro thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.