PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabi Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muay Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Thai

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabi 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, Muay Thai!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Thai circles away.
Horrible takedown by Thai or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz which made him look bad.
Thai fails to land the takedown.

Cruz clinches up with Thai and pushes him back against the cage.
Thai has Cruz pressed against the cage.
Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thai prevents it.
Thai prevents a body shot from Cruz.
Thai struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.
Cruz is trying to break free.
A knee to the head by Thai.
Cruz misses with the head strike.
Cruz presses Thai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thai works on Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gabi Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muay Thai.
A punch combination from Thai misses.
Nice takedown defense from Thai. No joy for Cruz on that attempt.
Thai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Thai circles away.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thai counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Cruz scores with a takedown into Thai's guard.
Cruz trying to control but Thai is working from the bottom.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cruz dives into side control.
Thai is letting Cruz control him for a moment.
The strikes coming from Cruz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
You can see the frustration on Thai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thai to his feet.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
and Thai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cruz wants to clinch
and Thai counters with a low kick, right behind Cruz 's knee.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Thai.
Thai fails to land the takedown.

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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 Thai walks away with a smile on his face. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Thai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Thai persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Thai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Cruz swinging wilding here.
Thai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cruz's waist but Cruz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thai off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cruz thuds a left hand into Thai's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muay Thai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Thai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Thai sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Thai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz prevents Thai from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Thai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Thai looking for submissions off his back.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thai trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cruz wants to clinch

so Thai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Thai looking to pass the guard.
Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thai!
Cruz looking to finish Thai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thai!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thai keeping control of the position.
Thai wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.

Cruz stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Thai throws a quick inside leg kick.

Thai has managed to clinch.
Thai changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thai prevents Cruz from breaking the clinch.
Thai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Muay Thai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Thai shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gabi Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Gabi Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muay Thai.
Thai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Thai circles away.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thai moves away.
Thai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Thai pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thai shoots and misses

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cruz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Thai wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz is keen to just control but Thai is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides to stand up.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Thai on that attempt.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Thai circles away and keeps his distance.

Thai moves into range and clinches up with Cruz.
Thai landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Thai manages to break the clinch.
Cruz works over Thai's head and body with a nice combination.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thai paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
Cruz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thai finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Thai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Thai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Thai counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thai.
Thai gets underhooks to prevent Cruz's takedown attempt.
Thai has Cruz pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has a couple of punches blocked by Thai.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thai pulls guard.
Thai wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thai controls Cruz momentarily but Cruz frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabi Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thai 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muay Thai!