PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Angelica Nugulagamba (ranked 4748 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Cruz (ranked 5216 p4p, 0 weight class). Nugulagamba kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bartolito. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nugulagamba
vs
Cruz

194 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Angelica Nugulagamba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roberto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nugulagamba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Nugulagamba sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nugulagamba after a bit of a struggle.
Cruz is trying to break free.
Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nugulagamba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cruz rushes Nugulagamba and presses him up against the cage.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugulagamba is trying to break free.
Cruz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nugulagamba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nugulagamba is keeping busy.

Cruz manages to pull guard.

Nugulagamba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nugulagamba has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Nugulagamba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz seems keen to control Nugulagamba's posture.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nugulagamba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nugulagamba lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nugulagamba from controlling successfully.
Nugulagamba lands a couple of elbows.
Nugulagamba looking to pass the guard.

Cruz has his foot on Nugulagamba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nugulagamba works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nugulagamba stands up over Cruz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nugulagamba from controlling successfully.
Nugulagamba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
Nugulagamba is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nugulagamba lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nugulagamba working some strikes from top position.
Cruz has momentary wrist control but Nugulagamba slips an elbow through the middle.
Nugulagamba looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nugulagamba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Nugulagamba's legs - danger averted.
Nugulagamba is trying to keep Cruz in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nugulagamba, up you get!

Nugulagamba scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Cruz has his foot on Nugulagamba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nugulagamba works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nugulagamba lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nugulagamba stops Cruz from standing up.
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 Angelica Nugulagamba will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nugulagamba throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.

Nugulagamba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nugulagamba connects with a nice short shot to Cruz's temple.
Nugulagamba is keen to just control but Cruz is a slippery customer.
Angelica Nugulagamba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nugulagamba wants to advance to full mount but Cruz doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nugulagamba postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
Cruz trying to control the position.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nugulagamba defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugulagamba postures up and lands a big shot to Cruz's brow.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nugulagamba from controlling successfully.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nugulagamba distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nugulagamba makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two 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.
Nugulagamba postures up.
Nugulagamba trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Nugulagamba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz tries to land a body kick

so Nugulagamba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nugulagamba makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nugulagamba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Nugulagamba has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Nugulagamba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nugulagamba with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nugulagamba scoring with punches to the head and body.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nugulagamba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nugulagamba works over Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Nugulagamba won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
Nugulagamba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Nugulagamba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nugulagamba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nugulagamba working some strikes from top position.
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Nugulagamba chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nugulagamba from controlling successfully.
Nugulagamba is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz wants to sweep here but Nugulagamba controlling him for the moment.
Nugulagamba tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angelica Nugulagamba dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nugulagamba misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
It seemed like Cruz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Nugulagamba sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cruz gets caught napping as Nugulagamba dives in and scores a takedown. Cruz manages to retain guard.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nugulagamba chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Nugulagamba postures up.
Nugulagamba scoring with some ground and pound.
Nugulagamba is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nugulagamba connects with a couple of short punches.
Nugulagamba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nugulagamba is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Nugulagamba from controlling successfully.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Nugulagamba tries to pass.
Nugulagamba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nugulagamba trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Nugulagamba is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cruz is trying to keep Nugulagamba in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Nugulagamba is really struggling to control Cruz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nugulagamba landing with the ground and pound.
Nugulagamba wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.
Nugulagamba trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nugulagamba misses.
Nugulagamba misses with a left hand

and Cruz moves into the clinch.

Cruz jumps guard.
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Cruz looking to control but Nugulagamba passes into half guard.
Nugulagamba trying to control the action but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Nugulagamba stalling away here and it's allowed Cruz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nugulagamba cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Nugulagamba cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Nugulagamba cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Nugulagamba is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nugulagamba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nugulagamba wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roberto Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nugulagamba distracts Cruz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angelica Nugulagamba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nugulagamba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angelica Nugulagamba!
Angelica Nugulagamba tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.