PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolex Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz's entrance music is Violator - Destined To Die. A fine choice. Gracie is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Amon Amart . On his way into the cage it seems that Mario Cruz has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mario Cruz seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Cruz
vs
Gracie

181 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mario Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rolex Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cruz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie can't get the takedown.

Cruz pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
I looks like Gracie might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Cruz won't let him.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolex Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie stays in close to Cruz's body and controls the position.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position from side mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rolex Gracie just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie prevents Cruz from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cruz to stand up.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruz's half guard.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolex Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cruz's guard.

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

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cruz!
Gracie controlling from mount.
Rolex Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Cruz to control.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rolex Gracie just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz trying to remain calm as Gracie controls from the top position.

Gracie decides to stand back up. Gracie steps back and let's Cruz get back to his feet.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cruz!
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolex Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 25:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 25:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolex Gracie!