PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryszard Bekas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by head crusher. On his way into the cage it seems that Cain Cruz has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Cain Cruz seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Cruz
vs
Bekas

200 cm
26
265 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

193 cm
21
232 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cain Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryszard Bekas!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bekas shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bekas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bekas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cruz pinned against the cage. Cruz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.

Bekas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bekas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cruz's head.
Cruz is not content to let Bekas control the position.

Bekas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Bekas eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekas is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.

Bekas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cruz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bekas.
Bekas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two 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.
Bekas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bekas seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.
Cruz trying to control but Bekas postures up.
My spies in Cozad The Island inform me that Bekas has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Bekas lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cruz keeping hold of Bekas's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bekas.
Bekas working Cruz over with strikes.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bekas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.

Bekas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bekas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bekas slips a nice elbow through Cruz's hands, connecting with Cruz's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bekas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cruz defends it well.

Cruz kicks off Bekas and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bekas leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bekas scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.

Bekas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cruz dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bekas quickly recovers to half guard.

Bekas looking for submissions off his back.
Bekas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Bekas working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz trying to control but Bekas is working from the bottom.

Bekas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bekas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bekas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bekas is breathing heavily.

Bekas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is in close to Bekas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bekas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bekas 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.
Bekas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Bekas keeps moving.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bekas working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.

Bekas working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bekas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.

Bekas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cruz stands up over Bekas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Bekas working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz trying to control but Bekas is working from the bottom.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.

Bekas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is in close to Bekas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bekas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

Bekas looking for a guillotine here but Cruz defends easily.
Cruz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bekas's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 Cain Cruz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bekas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Cruz gets caught flat footed, as Bekas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bekas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cruz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cruz has escaped and now he's on top!
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bekas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Bekas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bekas is proving hard to escape from.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Bekas keeps moving.

Bekas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bekas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cruz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bekas, up you get!
A head kick from Cruz lands but Bekas takes it in his stride.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Bekas shoots in.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bekas is looking to reverse the position.
Cruz advances to full mount.

Cruz working for a submission but Bekas is keeping him at bay.
Ryszard Bekas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekas is looking to improve his position but Cruz isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bekas looks a forlorn figure.
Bekas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cruz wants to control the pace but Bekas is squirming around nicely.
Bekas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz landing shots from mount.
Bekas is trying to escape the mount.
Cruz tries to control but Bekas wriggling away.
Cruz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bekas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ryszard Bekas!
Ryszard Bekas was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.