PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Felix De La Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Roth
vs
De La Cruz

154 cm
21
151 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

167 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felix De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De La Cruz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Roth sprawls well initially but De La Cruz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Roth wants to get back to his feet.

De La Cruz stands up and beckons Roth to join him on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Roth enables De La Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Roth manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
De La Cruz trying to control but Roth is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De La Cruz won't allow Roth to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth keeping full guard, as De La Cruz tries to pass.
De La Cruz controlling from the top position.
De La Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
De La Cruz is trying to control. Roth wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Roth wants to control but De La Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
De La Cruz thows a huge punch but Roth dodges it nicely.
De La Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
De La Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Roth really is a fat lump.
De La Cruz is taking a breather. Roth says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
De La Cruz prevents Roth from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Roth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
De La Cruz works his way into full mount!
Roth is working to get back to half guard.
Roth is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
De La Cruz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Roth is looking to escape.
Roth wants to hold on but De La Cruz pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz lands a heavy elbow.
Roth is just holding on here. De La Cruz manages to take his back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - De La Cruz's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
De La Cruz missing with strikes.

De La Cruz looking for the choke but no joy.

De La Cruz is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Roth has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Roth looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz tries to get the hooks in deep but Roth pushed the leg off.
Roth is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix De La Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De La Cruz pushes Roth up against the cage in a clinch.

De La Cruz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. De La Cruz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
De La Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roth is one step ahead there.
De La Cruz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

De La Cruz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
De La Cruz controls Roth momentarily but Roth frees himself.

De La Cruz manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De La Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Roth is trying to control the position but De La Cruz postures up.
De La Cruz wants to stand but Roth is controlling his posture from full guard.
Roth wants to stand but De La Cruz is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roth manages to escape and get back to his feet.
De La Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Roth is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from De La Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
De La Cruz throws a head kick but Roth moves out of range.
De La Cruz misses with a head kick.
Roth appears to be looking for a big counter.
De La Cruz is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

De La Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Felix De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roth closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into De La Cruz's guard.
De La Cruz trying to control the position.
Roth distracts De La Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roth working some strikes from top position.
Roth lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roth is working De La Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Felix De La Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roth makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

De La Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roth defends well.
De La Cruz has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
De La Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roth stands up over De La Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Roth lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth distracts De La Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roth works over De La Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Roth is working De La Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Roth is looking to work some ground and pound but De La Cruz has wrist control.
Roth works over De La Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
De La Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roth is one step ahead there.

De La Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roth can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roth scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Roth chips away with some ground and pound.
Roth connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth is working De La Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Roth lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Roth is in close to De La Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
De La Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Roth lands a couple of elbows.
Roth postures up in De La Cruz's guard and throws a big left but De La Cruz blocks it.
Roth won't allow De La Cruz to get back to his feet.
Roth has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
De La Cruz has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roth working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of De La Cruz's head.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Roth is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Roth is in close to De La Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Roth dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

De La Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roth.
Roth takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Chad Roth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

De La Cruz instigates a clinch.
De La Cruz content to slow the pace in the clinch.
De La Cruz stalling the fight.

De La Cruz decides to pull guard.
Roth distracts De La Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roth with a nice head shot there.
De La Cruz has momentary wrist control but Roth slips an elbow through the middle.
Roth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Roth puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
De La Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roth is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Roth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roth stops De La Cruz from getting back to his feet.
Roth seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Roth is nestled in close to De La Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Roth seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet.
Roth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
De La Cruz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roth scores with a couple of nice shots.
De La Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Roth blocks the strikes from De La Cruz.
Roth seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth blocks the strikes from De La Cruz.
Roth is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Roth drops an elbow to the side of De La Cruz's head.
Roth is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
De La Cruz trying to hold on to Roth's head to control him but Roth postures up.
Roth working the head and body with strikes.
Roth lands strikes from half guard.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
De La Cruz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roth scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De La Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Roth winds up and cracks De La Cruz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Roth is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Roth landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz tries to kick Roth off but Roth keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Roth lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
Roth working over De La Cruz with some ground and pound. De La Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Roth is nestled in close to De La Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roth lands strikes from half guard.
Roth scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
De La Cruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Roth is nestled in close to De La Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roth working De La Cruz over with strikes.
Roth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Roth working De La Cruz over with strikes.

Roth is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, De La Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Roth seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Roth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De La Cruz can do to turn this around?
Roth is nestled in close to De La Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Roth takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Roth lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Roth prevents De La Cruz from improving his position.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roth 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Roth!