PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hipolito Rhodes (ranked 25209 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Cruz (ranked 8148 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Robert Cruz was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rhodes
vs
Cruz

151 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hipolito Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz thows a leg kick but Rhodes checks it
and Rhodes counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cruz showed some decent athleticism there.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Rhodes dodges it nicely.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rhodes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Cruz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rhodes has one foot on Cruz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Robert Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rhodes counters with a two punch combo.
Rhodes 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 Rhodes off to one side.

Cruz shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rhodes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rhodes is looking to stand back up but Cruz counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rhodes.

Rhodes is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Rhodes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rhodes is trying to stand.
Cruz moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Rhodes is defending well.
Rhodes really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cruz controls the position from side control.
Rhodes wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Rhodes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rhodes is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rhodes to see if he's OK.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz advances to full mount.
Rhodes is in a horrible position here. Cruz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Cruz is working for a guillotine from mount but Rhodes frees his head quite easily.
Rhodes has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Cruz's lack of action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes kicks off Cruz and gets to his feet.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rhodes throws Cruz to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz leaves Rhodes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Cruz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rhodes dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Hipolito Rhodes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rhodes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rhodes manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Cruz tries to circle away but Rhodes has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is looking to control Rhodes's arms but Rhodes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cruz has his back to the cage.

Cruz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rhodes lands a couple of digs.
Robert Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rhodes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throwing strikes but missing.
Rhodes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Rhodes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rhodes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cruz stands up over Rhodes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rhodes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rhodes manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Cruz looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rhodes decides to pull guard.
Rhodes wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz prevents Rhodes from getting back to his feet.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Cruz stands up and waves to Rhodes to follow him.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhodes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Cruz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Cruz scoring with strikes but Rhodes is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Rhodes is avoiding it.
Rhodes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rhodes darts in looking for a takedown but Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Rhodes into the cage.

Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rhodes did well to prevent Cruz getting side control.

Rhodes kicks off Cruz and gets to his feet.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Rhodes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rhodes is trying to defend but Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz prevents Rhodes from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rhodes is trying to stand.
Cruz trying to control from half guard but Rhodes is working away.
Cruz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Rhodes has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rhodes tries to kick Cruz off in order to stand up. Cruz Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Rhodes tries to bench press Cruz off him but Cruz keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Rhodes is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Rhodes's guard.
Rhodes is wriggling around but Cruz manages to pass to half guard.

Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Rhodes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is nestled in close to Rhodes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Cruz is looking for a kimura here.
Cruz slips a nice elbow through Rhodes's hands, connecting with Rhodes's forehead.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the pace.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Rhodes won't allow it.
Cruz is nestled in close to Rhodes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cruz winds up and cracks Rhodes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz not doing much here.
Hipolito Rhodes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Robert Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cruz passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rhodes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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