PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salva Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robo Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robo Cop has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Cop

180 cm
22
209 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salva Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robo Cop!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cop shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cop doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cop's guard.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cop can do anything to dispel that myth.

Cruz stands up and waves to Cop to follow him.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz cracks Cop with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cop with a poor takedown
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Cop.
Salva Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robo Cop.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Cop.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cruz!

It looks like Robo Cop has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.
Cruz looks to score with a jab to the body but Cop is just out of range.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cop wants to get back to full guard but Cruz has passed into side control.

Cruz looking to secure an arm triangle but Cop defends it well.
Cruz tries to control but Cop wriggling away.
Cruz lands with some strikes.
Cruz trying to control but Cop is having none of it.
Cop keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cop is now in Cruz's guard. A big mistake from Cruz there, giving up the dominant position!
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cop throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz wriggles free and stands up.
Cop falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cruz counters with an outside leg kick.
Cruz wants to clinch.
Cop shoots and misses

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

Cruz gets to his feet. Cop looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
letting Cop counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
Cruz wants to stand up but Cop is controlling the position.

Cruz postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cop to stand up.
Cruz jabs Cop right on the nose. Cop blinks but takes it well.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Cop avoids it well.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.

Cruz scores a takedown into full mount!
Cruz tries to control but Cop wriggling away.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cruz is working for a guillotine from mount but Cop frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to control but Cop is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Cruz working for a guillotine from mount but Cop is in no mood to give up.

Cruz has control of Cop's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cop regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz tries to control but Cop wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salva Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robo Cop's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz clinches.
Cruz landing knees to the head.
Cruz keeps control of Cop as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cop wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cop swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cop won't be happy with that.
Cop is looking to reverse the position.
Salva Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cruz stands up.
Cop misses with the combination.
Cop misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cop has his takedown stuffed
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Cop will be more careful next time no doubt.

Cop tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cop wants to break free but Cruz has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop can't break the clinch.
Cop tries to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cop.
A knee to the head by Cruz.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cop lands a left and a right that sends Cruz crashing to the canvas! Cop dives into mount looking to finish!

Cruz is rocked!
Cop lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Oh Cruz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cop raining down shots from the mount!
Cop lands with some strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cop working Cruz over with strikes here.
The referee warns Cruz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The referee warns Cruz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cop working the ground and pound effectively.
Cruz is in a horrible position here. Cop smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cop has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cruz's face.
Cop connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cop lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cop connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cop lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cop landing shots from mount.
Cop pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Cop connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cop scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cop dominating with strikes here.
Cop lands a nice shot to the head.
Cop has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cruz's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop lands a big elbow.
Cruz is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Cruz can't escape the position.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz seems to have got his legs back now.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cop connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cruz regains half guard.
Cruz pushes Cop off looking to stand but Cop dives back in and keeps control.
Cop landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop prevents Cruz from standing back up.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz pushes Cop off looking to stand but Cop dives back in and keeps control.
Cop is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cop stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cruz to get to his feet.
Cop connects with the punch.
Cop jabs at Cruz's body.
Cop doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Salva Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robo Cop.
Cop is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cruz postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cop to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robo Cop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Robo Cop's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cruz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cop will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Cop counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cruz thinking.

Cruz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cruz lands in his opponent's guard.
Cop 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.
Cruz passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Cop has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.

Cruz decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz gets a clinch.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Cop ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cop thuds his right hand into Cruz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop thows a body shot but no joy.
Cop showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
Cop checks a leg kick nicely.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Robo Cop's cut even more.
Cop takes a knee right on the jaw!

Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cop throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Cop.
Cop wants to break free but Cruz has control.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz with a poor takedown

and Cop counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cruz is trying to stand.
Cop throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz tries to kick Cop off but Cop keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cruz trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Cruz throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.

Cruz pushes Cop off and gets back to his feet.
Cop uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cop misses with a takedown attempt - Cruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cop misses with a takedown

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cruz working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cop looks to land a combination. Cruz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cop sneaks back into half guard.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Cruz decides to stand and escape the position.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Cop saw that one coming.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Cop counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Cop to acknowledge the strikes.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Cruz decides to stand back up.

Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Cop wants to stall.
Cop drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salva Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robo Cop.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cop misses with a takedown attempt

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.

Cop shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cop tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cop working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Cruz kicks Cop off and gets to his feet.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Cop takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cruz dodges the punch combination from Cop.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salva Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

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