PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergio Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rinaldo Rosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergio Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Rosa

181 cm
23
189 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

205 cm
26
184 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rinaldo Rosa!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rosa clinches.

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

Rosa gets a takedown into half guard.
Rosa is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rinaldo Rosa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rosa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rosa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rosa off to one side.
Rosa misses with a takedown attempt
and Cruz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cruz shoots and misses

so Rosa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rosa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rosa looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Rosa from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rinaldo Rosa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rosa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cruz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rosa's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rosa is controlling Cruz's posture.

Cruz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rosa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rosa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rosa!
Cruz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosa trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Rosa postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.
A lull in the action here.

Rosa decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rosa circles away easily

and Rosa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rosa shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Rosa 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.
Rosa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cruz at a distance.

Rosa gets the takedown into side control.
Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rosa off and has taken his back!
Rosa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rosa fending off the submission attempt from Cruz.
Rosa breaks Cruz's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rosa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rosa escapes and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cruz is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rosa connects with a decent elbow.
Rosa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rosa decides to stand back up.

Cruz tries to sprawl but Rosa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rosa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cruz is staying active underneath Rosa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rinaldo Rosa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rosa quickly recovers to half guard.
Rosa is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz prevents Rosa from standing back up.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Cruz is working for a kimura but Rosa is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is working for a kimura but Rosa is defending it quite comfortably.
Rosa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rosa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rosa keeps control of the position for the meantime.
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 Sergio Cruz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cruz shoots in and drives through. Rosa sprawls well.

Rosa clinches up with Cruz and pushes him back against the cage.

Rosa pulls guard successfully.

Cruz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rosa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rosa has escaped and now he's on top!
Rosa is in close to Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosa wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

Rosa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rosa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rosa has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosa is pushing down on Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Rosa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rosa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rosa is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosa is looking to advance position but Cruz won't allow it.
Rosa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rosa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rosa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rosa.
Rinaldo Rosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rosa 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rinaldo Rosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rosa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rinaldo Rosa!