PBP Commentary

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

Cruz
vs
Yanin

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

184 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yanko Yanin!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Cruz.
Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Yanin or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz which made him look bad.
Cruz lands with a nice body kick.
Yanin looks gassed!
Cruz cracks Yanin with a good jab.

It looks like Yanko Yanin has been cut.

Cruz throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Yanin stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Cruz follows into mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cruz is working for a guillotine from mount but Yanin frees his head quite easily.

Cruz jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yanin manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanin is looking for a sweep.

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

Cruz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Yanin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cruz's guard! Nice work there by Yanin!
Yanin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two 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.
Yanin stops Cruz from standing up.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Yanin from controlling successfully.
Yanin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Yanin stands up and waves to Cruz to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cruz misses with a wild combination.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cruz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yanin on the side of the head.

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 stuffs the takedown attempt from Yanin. Yanin gets slowly back to his feet.
Vitor Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yanko Yanin.
Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Yanin throws a combination that misses
and Cruz counters with a head kick. That will keep Yanin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cruz jabs Yanin right on the nose. Yanin blinks but takes it well.
Cruz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Yanin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cruz - the referee stops the clock and Yanin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cruz. Yanin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck for Yanin with that takedown attempt.
Cruz throws a series of strikes that have Yanin backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yanko Yanin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yanin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz throws a head kick that Yanin semi-blocks.
Good exchange - Cruz coming out on top.
Yanin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yanin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Yanin is trying desperately to land a takedown but Cruz is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Yanin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yanin is defended easily by Cruz.
Cruz lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cruz.
Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Yanin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yanin somewhat.
Vitor Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yanko Yanin.
Yanin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cruz thumps Yanin with a low kick.
Yanin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vitor Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!
Vitor Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pushes Yanin away with a front kick.
Yanin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yanin shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz scores with a head kick.
Vitor Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
Yanin throws a combination that misses
and Cruz counters with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yanin is defended easily by Cruz.
Cruz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yanin momentarily.
Cruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Yanin. Yanin gets slowly back to his feet.
Yanin wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz misses with a head kick.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Yanin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yanin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Yanin stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Yanin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yanin looking for a takedown.
Yanin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yanin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Yanin's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Yanin is controlling him.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Yanin.
Yanin has Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Yanin.
Yanin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cruzs head.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yanin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yanin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cruz lands a head kick!
A slapping leg kick lands for Cruz.
Yanin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yanin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Yanin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yanko Yanin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yanin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz lands a head kick!
Cruz bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cruz looks to land a combination. Yanin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cruz lands a head kick!
Yanin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yanin is defended easily by Cruz.
Vitor Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yanko Yanin.
Cruz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yanin's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yanin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
Yanin shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Yanin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yanin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yanin gets slowly back to his feet.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Yanin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Yanin lands in his opponent's guard.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yanin.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yanin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yanin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yanin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Yanin stands up and waves to Cruz to follow him.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Yanin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four 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.
Cruz misses with a double jab.
Yanin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz works the jab nicely.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Yanin moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yanin is defended easily by Cruz.
Yanin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cruz.
Yanin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yanin.
Cruz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yanin's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Cruz!