PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Takalua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luan Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Takalua
vs
Cruz

175 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob Takalua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luan Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takalua has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Takalua counters with a two punch combo.
Takalua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Takalua has his takedown stuffed

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Takalua fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Takalua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Takalua is retaining full guard.

Cruz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cruz shoots in but Takalua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takalua has his hands on Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Takalua is breathing heavily.
Takalua wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Takalua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Cruz gets to his feet. Takalua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Takalua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Takalua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
Cruz lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Takalua moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Cruz has eaten all the pies!
Takalua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takalua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Takalua throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruz.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Takalua circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua lands a head kick!
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takalua circles away.

Takalua closes the distance and clinches.

Takalua successfully pulls guard.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Takalua won't let him.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.

Takalua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Takalua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takalua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Takalua looking to control.

Takalua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruz defends it easily.

Takalua looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luan Cruz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takalua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takalua moves out of range of the leg kick from Cruz.
Takalua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takalua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Takalua moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Takalua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Takalua shoots in.
Takalua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Jacob Takalua is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz scores with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Takalua as Cruz shoots in.
Takalua takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Cruz tries to clinch but Takalua moves out of range.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Takalua, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Takalua against the cage but Takalua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Takalua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Takalua to the mat! Takalua manages to get full guard.
Cruz won't allow Takalua to sweep him here.
Takalua is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Takalua is proving hard to escape from.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takalua looking to control.
Takalua keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Takalua holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jacob Takalua just wasn't active enough.

Takalua closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
Takalua leaning against his opponent.
Takalua tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cruz is trying to maintain a safe position but Takalua gets an underhook and turns Cruz into the cage.

Takalua decides to pull guard.
Cruz postures up.

Cruz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Takalua looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Takalua looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Takalua!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takalua decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cruz to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Takalua to keep the fight standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takalua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Takalua.
Takalua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cruz's face.
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 Jacob Takalua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Takalua lands a jab to Cruz's midsection.

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Takalua has had enough of the clinch but Cruz keeps him there for the moment.

Takalua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid body kick from Takalua.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Nice sprawl there from Takalua as Cruz shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takalua fails to land the takedown.
Takalua looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Takalua which made him look bad.
Jacob Takalua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luan Cruz.
Takalua dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takalua looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz shoots in but Takalua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takalua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takalua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Takalua closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Takalua pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takalua is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.

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

Cruz pulls Takalua into guard.
Takalua is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua passes Cruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Takalua is very close to passing his half guard.
Takalua controlling the action here.

Takalua decides to stand and escape the position.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Takalua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takalua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Takalua.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Cruz takes a head kick and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Takalua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Takalua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Takalua!