PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabiano Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramberto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Silva
vs
Cruz

187 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

183 cm
18
229 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ramberto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Silva thows a big elbow that misses.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cruz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Silva puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Silva seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Silva seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz manages to get to full guard.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva chips away with some ground and pound.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the position.

Silva gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily
and Silva counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
Cruz looks gassed!
Silva stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cruz stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.

Silva breaks from the clinch.

Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Silva gets full guard.
Cruz being controlled here momentarily.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Silva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Silva wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Silva working a defensive guard here.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Silva trying to move into half guard but instead Cruz has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cruz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Silva Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cruz's back instead.
Cruz prevents Silva from getting a body triangle.

Cruz is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Silva gets his way!

Silva is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Silva doesn't have the hooks in and Cruz manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva managing to control the position.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabiano Silva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Ramberto Cruz has been cut.

Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva is tying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Silva decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva wants to stand up but Cruz has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Cruz tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Silva has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to reverse the position but instead Silva has taken his back - oops!

Silva working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Fabiano Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silva throwing sloppy strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to control his opponent's hands but Silva gets his hands free.
Silva keeps control of the position easily here as Cruz tries to buck him off.
Silva cracks Cruz with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Cruz from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Cruz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Silva is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Will Silva go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Silva tries to get the hooks in deep but Cruz pushed the leg off.
Cruz covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Silva controlling the position well here. Cruz rolled but Silva kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Cruz is really stuck here.
Cruz avoids the strikes from Silva.

Silva is looking for the choke from the back position but Cruz is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeps control of the position easily here as Cruz tries to buck him off.

Silva is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cruz has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Cruz trying to control the hands but Silva won't let him.

Silva is looking for the choke from the back position but Cruz is controlling his hands well.
Cruz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Silva is tying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Silva cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cruz won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabiano Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ramberto Cruz's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Cruz shrugs off.

Silva tightens his grip and picks Cruz up, before dumping him to the ground. Cruz manages to land in guard.

Cruz has his feet on Silva's thighs here. He's pushed Silva off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Silva screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ramberto Cruz!