PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lucho Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dani Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucho Rodriguez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dani Cruz's chin.

Rodriguez
vs
Cruz

167 cm
20
146 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

197 cm
23
144 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucho Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dani Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez misses with a low kick.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rodriguez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses
and Cruz counters with a stiff right hand.

Cruz feints and as Rodriguez raises his hands in defense, Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruz wants to stand but Rodriguez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rodriguez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez slips under a jab from Cruz.
Cruz blocks a jab.
Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Rodriguez misses with an uppercut

and Cruz moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to stall but Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown attempt but Cruz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rodriguez. Rodriguez obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy body shot

and Cruz counters by clinching up.
Rodriguez is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Cruz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rodriguez doesn't seem phased though.
Lucho Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!
Rodriguez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rodriguez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cruz passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cruz stands up out of the half guard.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lucho Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dani Cruz.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodriguez is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Rodriguez circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodriguez throws a nice head kick!
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick

and Cruz counters with a takedown into side control.
Cruz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Cruz cracks Rodriguez with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dani Cruz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
A jab from Cruz finds it's way through Rodriguez's defenses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rodriguez, right into the meat.
Lucho Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.
Cruz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rodriguez throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rodriguez throws a body kick that misses.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodriguez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lucho Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dani Cruz.
Rodriguez misses with a two punch combination.
Rodriguez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodriguez throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Rodriguez throws a lazy head kick

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Cruz blocks a body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cruz gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cruz pulls Rodriguez into guard.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is working an open guard so Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Rodriguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cruz slips a straight right by Rodriguez.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodriguez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Rodriguez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Rodriguez lands with a slapping head kick.
Rodriguez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

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 will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez connects with a high kick.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Cruz rushes Rodriguez and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Rodriguez is controlling him.
Cruz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dani Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez connects with a high kick.
Rodriguez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rodriguez throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rodriguez.
Cruz takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot
and Cruz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A head kick by Rodriguez misses

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to circle away but Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Cruz jumps into guard, dragging Rodriguez to the mat.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Cruz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cruz pushes Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez cracks a nice hook into Cruz's ribs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rodriguez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cruz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cruz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.
Rodriguez is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Cruz's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Cruz shoots in.
Lucho Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dani Cruz.
Rodriguez swinging wildly here.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Cruz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodriguez is able to avoid easily.
Rodriguez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cruz wants to stall.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Cruz stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Cruz.
Cruz letting Rodriguez take a breather here.
Cruz jumps guard but Rodriguez stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.

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 shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rodriguez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rodriguez avoids a kick to the body.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Lucho Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz shoots and misses
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Cruz moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dani Cruz.
I've got Cruz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dani Cruz!