PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mile Drakulic (ranked 4111 p4p, 3209 weight class) and Ricardo P Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drakulic
vs
P Cruz

175 cm
25
220
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
24
225
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mile Drakulic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo P Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
P Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Drakulic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mile Drakulic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
P Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
P Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
P Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Drakulic shoots in but P Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mile Drakulic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
P Cruz scores with a leg kick.

Drakulic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. P Cruz sprawls well initially but Drakulic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

P Cruz pushes Drakulic off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
P Cruz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Mile Drakulic has been cut.
P Cruz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Drakulic on the side of the head.
Drakulic tries for a takedown but P Cruz circles away easily
and P Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Drakulic.
P Cruz lands the left hand.

P Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Drakulic in a clinch.

P Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
P Cruz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
P Cruz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Drakulic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. P Cruz tries to avoid it but Drakulic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag P Cruz to the ground. P Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

P Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.

P Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for P Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Drakulic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts P Cruz as he jumps to the side.
P Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

P Cruz closes the distance and pushes Drakulic back into the cage.
P Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
P Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Drakulic's takedown attempt.
Drakulic looking for a takedown.
P Cruz will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Drakulic up against the cage.
Drakulic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

P Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Drakulic avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
P Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Drakulic. Drakulic gets slowly back to his feet.
P Cruz is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
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!

P Cruz clinches with his opponent.
P Cruz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Drakulic goes for a takedown in the clinch but P Cruz prevents it.
Nice body punch from P Cruz.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, P Cruz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

P Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts P Cruz, as that shot connected.
P Cruz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Drakulic misses with a takedown attempt
enabling P Cruz to counter with a crisp jab.
P Cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
P Cruz closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Drakulic is rocked!
P Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Oh Drakulic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Mile Drakulic's cut is getting worse.
Drakulic is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and P Cruz moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricardo P Cruz!