PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Cruz Jr (ranked 5879 p4p, 123 weight class) and Bruce Schlimen (ranked 4289 p4p, 97 weight class). Schlimen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Wavey. Julio Cruz Jr has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cruz Jr
vs
Schlimen

194 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julio Cruz Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Schlimen!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schlimen fails with the takedown.
Schlimen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Schlimen with a poor takedown
enabling Cruz Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Cruz Jr checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Schlimen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cruz Jr under the eye.

It looks like Julio Cruz Jr has been cut.
Cruz Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Schlimen.
Cruz Jr quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Julio Cruz Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Schlimen.
Cruz Jr gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Schlimen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schlimen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Cruz Jr misses the target.
Schlimen shoots in but Cruz Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schlimen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz Jr half committed to a counter leg kick.
Schlimen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz Jr as he avoids it easily.
Schlimen moves in looking to clinch but Cruz Jr pushes him off.
Cruz Jr drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Schlimen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz Jr misses with a wild body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Schlimen.
Cruz Jr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Schlimen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Schlimen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz Jr circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz Jr takes a swing at Schlimen's ribcage but misses.
Cruz Jr looks to land a body kick but Schlimen moved away.
Schlimen throws the left hand but Cruz Jr avoids the punch easily.
Cruz Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
Schlimen shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Schlimen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Schlimen backs away, Cruz Jr returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Schlimen fails to land the takedown.
It appears Cruz Jr was looking to counter with a kick there.
Cruz Jr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bruce Schlimen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz Jr takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schlimen missing with a left hand there. Cruz Jr was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Schlimen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruz Jr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Schlimen somewhat.
Schlimen throws a shot from downtown. Cruz Jr moves away and avoids it.
Cruz Jr was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Schlimen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz Jr sprawls well. Cruz Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Schlimen gets slowly back to his feet.
And Cruz Jr counters with a quick kick to the body but Schlimen blocks it.
Schlimen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz Jr needs to keep his hands up - Schlimen had a free shot at his head there.
Cruz Jr with a jab.
Cruz Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Schlimen dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cruz Jr tried to counter with a leg kick but Schlimen avoided it.
Schlimen connects with a single shot there.
Schlimen thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Schlimen misses the target.
Schlimen tries for a takedown but Cruz Jr sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Schlimen fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruz Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julio Cruz Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Good shot there by Schlimen.
Cruz Jr changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Schlimen.
Cruz Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Schlimen manages to avoid it.
Schlimen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz Jr manages to avoid it.
Cruz Jr is looking to wear down Schlimen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Schlimen lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz Jr's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schlimen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz Jr tries to avoid it but Schlimen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz Jr to the ground. Cruz Jr escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz Jr appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Schlimen shoots in and drives through. Cruz Jr sprawls well.
Schlimen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz Jr but Cruz Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Julio Cruz Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Schlimen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz Jr stuffs the takedown.
Schlimen dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And Cruz Jr counters with a quick kick to the body but Schlimen blocks it.
Cruz Jr takes a swing at Schlimen's ribcage but misses.
Schlimen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cruz Jr.
Cruz Jr shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schlimen.
Cruz Jr is looking to counter with a body kick.
Schlimen shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Schlimen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz Jr on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Schlimen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cruz Jr blocks the body kick.
Schlimen lands a really nice looking cross but Cruz Jr seems unphased.

Schlimen drives through and clinches with Cruz Jr against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schlimen is trying to drag Cruz Jr to the mat but Cruz Jr just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Schlimen tries to pull guard but Cruz Jr won't allow it.
Cruz Jr throws an elbow but it misses.

Schlimen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cruz Jr uses from the top position.

Schlimen is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Cruz Jr rolls with it to try and escape but Schlimen cranks on the arm and Cruz Jr is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruce Schlimen!
Bruce Schlimen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.