PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shotgun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salva Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen Kreator - Phobia as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Salva Cruz enters the cage!

Rua
vs
Cruz

185 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
209 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shotgun Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salva Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua tries to throw a body punch but Cruz avoids it by throwing Rua back against the cage.

Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rua taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
Rua takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cruz working the ground and pound from side control.
Rua takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rua takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cruz cracks Rua with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rua tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz lands an elbow.
Cruz working the head with strikes.
Rua manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Rua is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cruz winds up and cracks Rua with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cruz looks gassed!
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Rua has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.
Cruz strikes from his own guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Cruz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rua has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rua tries to stand but Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
Cruz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cruz throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Cruz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rua clinches.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab, jab by Rua - just one landing.
Rua misses with a two punch combination.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rua.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Rua pushes Cruz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua with a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Rua as the two fighters clinch.
Rua is leaning against Cruz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rua wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rua working Cruz over with knees to the body.
Rua is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rua moves into the clinch.
Rua lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Rua.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salva Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Rua is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Shotgun Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salva Cruz.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rua clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but Cruz keeps him there for the moment.
Rua lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knees to the body from Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shotgun Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua lands a big head kick that sends Cruz tumbling to the mat! Rua takes a step backwards and waves Cruz back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Cruz is rocked!
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.

Cruz breaks the clinch.

Cruz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rua's half guard.
Rua tries to roll over but Cruz keeps him under control.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rua tries to kick Cruz off but Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rua gets full guard.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rua pushes Cruz off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands a head kick!
Rua throws a good cross that connects.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rua landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cruz takes a knee to the side of the body.

Rua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rua.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Shotgun Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rua has Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua lands a knee to the body.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua cracks Cruz with a nice body shot.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Cruz has the dominant position.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Rua both land. Nice combination.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Rua has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cruz decides to pull guard.
Cruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rua postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Rua won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cruz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cruz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cruz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.
Rua lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rua scores with a jab to the head.

Rua rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rua breaks the clinch.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Rua throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.
Rua plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets a clinch.
Rua lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rua lands a knee to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Rua.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.

Cruz pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua lands a nice uppercut.
Rua lands a good knee to the midsection. Cruz won't want to take too many of those.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A body shot lands from Rua.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz looking for a takedown.
Cruz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rua's efforts to push away.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A left hand lands to the body for Rua.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shotgun Rua dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua throws a shot to the body.
A combination from Rua does no damage.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Rua lands the left hand.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua tries to clinch up but Cruz circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.

Rua has managed to clinch.
Cruz takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rua digs a right hand into Cruz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cruz's gas tank.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shotgun Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salva Cruz.
Rua is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Rua.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to clinch but Rua slips to the side

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Rua.
Shotgun Rua has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Rua wants to break free but Cruz has control.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Cruz has Rua pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rua manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Salva Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rua throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Rua is in a horrible position here. Cruz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rua tries to hold on but Cruz postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cruz cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cruz avoids the attempt from Rua to control.
Rua tries to reverse the position but Cruz maintains control.
Cruz fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cruz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rua wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Cruz with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the head.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz lands a heavy elbow.
Cruz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cruz punching from mount but Rua doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cruz misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rua really wants to buck Cruz off and get back to his feet.
Cruz is landing with some decent strikes but Rua is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cruz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cruz breaks from Rua's wrist control and lands an elbow.

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.
Cruz landing punches.
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cruz misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rua is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz lands a big elbow.
Cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Shotgun Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Salva Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shotgun Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shotgun Rua!