PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Silva
vs
Cruz

179 cm
20
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 London, Tiago Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Carlos Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva shoots and misses

and Cruz counters with a single leg into guard. Silva didn't expect that.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Silva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Silva's legs - danger averted.
Silva looking to control.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Silva's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but Cruz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cruz is controlling the pace.

Cruz stands up and beckons Silva to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva moves into the clinch.

Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Silva prevents Cruz from improving position.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz working away.
Cruz tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides to stand back up.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Cruz back into the cage.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Cruz gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Silva regains guard.

Silva manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Silva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz looks winded!
Cruz can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Cruz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Silva clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice uppercut there from Silva.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
Silva fails to land the takedown.
Cruz throws a fast counter high kick but Silva manages to duck under it in time.
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 Tiago Silva will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva with a poor takedown

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tiago Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Cruz.
Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Cruz won't allow it.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz tries to counter with a clinch but Silva shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants a takedown.

Cruz tightens his grip and picks Silva up, before dumping him to the ground. Silva manages to land in guard.

Silva has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz advances to half guard.
Silva trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to strike off his back.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cruz prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silva's guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cruz controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.
Silva preventing the sweep.
Cruz looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Silva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Silva dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Cruz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Silva looks for a takedown but Cruz sprawls well.
And Cruz tries to counter it with a takedown but Silva pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Cruz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As Silva backs off Cruz throws a huge counter combo but Silva manages to avoid it all.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Silva gets a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Carlos Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cruz pushes down on Silva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Silva is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Silva fails with the takedown.
A nice side step and Cruz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Cruz decides to stand back up.

Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.

Cruz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Silva clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Silva tries to escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to keep control of the position but Silva is staying busy.
Cruz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Cruz's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
What can Silva do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Cruz looking for the choke but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:30

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