PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shane Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rudolph Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dela Cruz
vs
Silva

180 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shane Dela Cruz!
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, Rudolph Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dela Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Dela Cruz is trying to pull guard but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Dela Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Silva stalling in the clinch but Dela Cruz improves position.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dela Cruz avoids it.
Dela Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Dela Cruz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dela Cruz tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Dela Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Dela Cruz is trying to break free.
Dela Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dela Cruz stalling.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dela Cruz is defending well for now.
Dela Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Dela Cruz jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Silva decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dela Cruz, up you get!
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dela Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dela Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva wants to clinch but Dela Cruz slips to the side

and Dela Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dela Cruz.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva avoiding damage as Dela Cruz throws knees to the body.
Dela Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dela Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dela Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dela Cruz tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.
Silva tries to stall but Dela Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Dela Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva keeps control of Dela Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Dela Cruz gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Dela Cruz looking for a takedown.
Silva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dela Cruz avoids it.
Silva keeps control of Dela Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dela Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dela Cruz working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Dela Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dela Cruz tries to clinch up.
Dela Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Dela Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rudolph Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva darts in trying to clinch

and Dela Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dela Cruz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva tries to stall but Dela Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shane Dela Cruz 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.

Dela Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.

Dela Cruz clinches.
Dela Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dela Cruz's efforts to push away.
Dela Cruz jumps guard but Silva stands there with Dela Cruz around his waist. Dela Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dela Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Dela Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Dela Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Dela Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
Dela Cruz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dela Cruz slowing the pace effectively.
Shane Dela Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dela Cruz tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dela Cruz tries to circle away but Silva has him pinned against the cage.
The referee calls for Silva to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Dela Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Silva has him pressed against the cage.
Silva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dela Cruz is defending well for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Dela Cruz stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz misses with a body punch.

Dela Cruz pulls guard successfully.

Dela Cruz is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dela Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva is looking to control Dela Cruz's arms but Dela Cruz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silva has his back to the cage.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Dela Cruz blocks it.
Dela Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dela Cruz will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Silva up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to land knees in the clinch but Dela Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Silva pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Silva tries to stall but Dela Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dela Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dela Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Silva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
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 Shane Dela Cruz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dela Cruz rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.
Dela Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dela Cruz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Dela Cruz for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Dela Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Silva.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage.
Dela Cruz working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dela Cruz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Silva up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Dela Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Dela Cruz pulls guard successfully.

Silva gets to his feet. Dela Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Dela Cruz circles away.
Silva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.

Dela Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dela Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dela Cruz can't break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Dela Cruz.
Silva controlling the action here for a moment.
Silva avoiding damage as Dela Cruz throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Dela Cruz tries to pull guard but Silva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage as Silva throws knees to the body.
Dela Cruz tries for a takedown but Silva manages to get underhooks.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Dela Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dela Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Silva is pressed up against the cage. Dela Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Silva down to the mat. Silva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to clinch.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dela Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Silva tries to clinch up
and Dela Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Dela Cruz, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Dela Cruz against the cage but Dela Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz throws a leg kick
and Silva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Silva stuffs the takedown attempt from Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva throws a series of punches but Dela Cruz avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shane Dela Cruz.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dela Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 for Rudolph Silva!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Shane Dela Cruz!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Shane Dela Cruz!

Shane Dela Cruz wins by split decision!