PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davidson has chosen I wanna love you as his entrance music. Joe Davidson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cruz
vs
Davidson

200 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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, Jesus Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Davidson!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
A nice combination there by Cruz.

It looks like Joe Davidson has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz is looking to clinch but Davidson is avoiding it.
Davidson keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Davidson scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Cruz 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.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Davidson is proving a slippery customer.
Davidson won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Davidson chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Davidson on the ground.
Davidson won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Davidson pushes his legs off easily.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Davidson is proving a slippery customer.
Davidson won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Davidson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Davidson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Davidson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the ropes.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cruz.

Davidson jumps guard and drags Cruz to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Davidson working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.

Davidson working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Davidson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control but Davidson is working from the bottom.
Cruz distracts Davidson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cruz stays in close to Davidson's body and controls the position.
Davidson is wriggling around but Cruz manages to pass to half guard.

Davidson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to stand but can't do so whilst Davidson controls his leg.
Cruz stops Davidson from getting back to his feet.
Davidson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Cruz manages to move to mount!
Cruz connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Davidson is squirming around, avoiding Cruz's attempts to control the action.
Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Davidson looks a forlorn figure.
Cruz trying to control but Davidson is having none of it.

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.
Davidson tries to hold on but Cruz postures up.
Cruz wants to control the pace but Davidson is squirming around nicely.
Cruz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Davidson is trying to escape the mount but Cruz keeps good control and instead manages to take Davidson's back.
Davidson prevents Cruz from getting a body triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Davidson is trying to get back to his feet but Cruz has full control of the position and if anything, Davidson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Davidson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Davidson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz tries to clinch but Davidson moves away

and Davidson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cruz wants to control but Davidson is keeping busy.
Davidson is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Davidson stands and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Davidson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Davidson is breathing heavily.
Davidson wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a strike from the bottom.
Cruz is trying to work for a sweep but Davidson has mounted him!
Cruz regains half guard.
Davidson tries to pass to full mount but Cruz defends it.
Cruz is pressing down on Davidson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Davidson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cruz has control of Davidson's left arm, preventing Davidson from doing any damage.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Davidson wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

Davidson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cruz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Davidson has Cruz in his guard.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Davidson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davidson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.

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

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz passes into half guard.

Davidson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson misses with a combination

and Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Davidson!
Davidson is trying to stand.
Davidson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Davidson tries to hold on but Cruz postures up.
Davidson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cruz with the ground and pound from mount.
Davidson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jesus Cruz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Davidson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Davidson pushes him off.
Cruz tries to clinch but Davidson moves out of range.
Cruz darts in trying to clinch

and Davidson counters with a shoot takedown. Cruz fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davidson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.

Davidson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cruz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cruz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cruz!
Cruz trying to control the position but Davidson is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davidson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Cruz taking a breather here.
Davidson is not content to let Cruz control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cruz trying to control the position but Davidson is working away.
Davidson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cruz wants to clinch but Davidson slips to the side

and Davidson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Davidson tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Davidson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cruz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Davidson has Cruz in his guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Davidson keeps moving.
Davidson is trying to keep Cruz in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz pushes down on Davidson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Davidson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Davidson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Davidson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Davidson looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Cruz is defending well. Davidson quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Cruz has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Davidson celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joe Davidson!