PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felix Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alois Wutawanashe (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.

Cruz
vs
Wutawanashe

186 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Brute
KAISER

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felix Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alois Wutawanashe!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wutawanashe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Wutawanashe feints and as Cruz raises his hands in defense, Wutawanashe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Wutawanashe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wutawanashe sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wutawanashe should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alois Wutawanashe was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Wutawanashe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz with a poor takedown

and Wutawanashe counters by moving into the clinch.
Cruz looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wutawanashe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt

and Wutawanashe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cruz won't be happy with that.
Cruz is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wutawanashe connects with a decent elbow.
Wutawanashe lands a few punches from side control.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.

Wutawanashe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Wutawanashe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.

Wutawanashe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cruz!
Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Wutawanashe taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wutawanashe is controlling him well.
Wutawanashe moves into full mount!
Wutawanashe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wutawanashe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Wutawanashe postures up.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Wutawanashe isn't so interested in that idea.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Wutawanashe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wutawanashe looks winded!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felix Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.

Wutawanashe gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.

Wutawanashe jumps into guard, dragging Cruz to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Wutawanashe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wutawanashe struggling a bit here.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Wutawanashe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wutawanashe is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alois Wutawanashe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wutawanashe is looking to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wutawanashe.
Wutawanashe scoring with punches from side control.
Wutawanashe moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cruz tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Wutawanashe.
Wutawanashe is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wutawanashe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wutawanashe is doing well to control the position and prevent Cruz from advancing to side control.
Wutawanashe is breathing heavily.
Wutawanashe is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felix Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Wutawanashe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wutawanashe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Cruz shoots and misses
and Wutawanashe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed
and Wutawanashe makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Wutawanashe. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wutawanashe is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Wutawanashe circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wutawanashe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alois Wutawanashe has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz wants to stand up but Wutawanashe is controlling him.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wutawanashe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wutawanashe looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wutawanashe keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Wutawanashe 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.

Wutawanashe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cruz trying to control but Wutawanashe is working from the bottom.
Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Wutawanashe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Wutawanashe. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Wutawanashe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felix Cruz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cruz with a poor takedown
and Wutawanashe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wutawanashe did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Wutawanashe is working away.
Wutawanashe is trying to maintain the position but Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Wutawanashe won't allow it.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wutawanashe keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
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 Felix 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!

Cruz looks for a takedown but Wutawanashe sprawls well.
Felix Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Wutawanashe moves into the clinch.

Wutawanashe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Wutawanashe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Wutawanashe is pulling down on Cruz's head. It's preventing any offense from Cruz, at least for the moment.
Wutawanashe keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz tries to stand but Wutawanashe is controlling from the bottom.
Wutawanashe wants to improve his position but instead Cruz has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wutawanashe is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Wutawanashe wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Wutawanashe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wutawanashe is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Cruz blocks the strikes from Wutawanashe.
Cruz passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wutawanashe wants to control but Cruz is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to control but Wutawanashe wriggling away.
Wutawanashe is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cruz trying to control but Wutawanashe is having none of it.
Wutawanashe wants to hold on but Cruz pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to control but Wutawanashe wriggling away.

We're going to have a standup here because Felix Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wutawanashe is defended easily by Cruz.
Wutawanashe leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz shoots in but Wutawanashe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Felix Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wutawanashe throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cruz's head.
Cruz swings for the body but Wutawanashe moves out of range.
No luck for Wutawanashe with that takedown attempt.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Wutawanashe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wutawanashe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wutawanashe counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cruz is lucky that one didn't land flush.

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 Felix Cruz.
I think Cruz 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Alois Wutawanashe!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Alois Wutawanashe!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Alois Wutawanashe!

Alois Wutawanashe wins by unanimous decision!