PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Avicus Anstoldos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Anstoldos might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rotting Christ - Athanati Este. Sergio Cruz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Anstoldos
vs
Cruz

185 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
189 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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, Avicus Anstoldos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Anstoldos's guard.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Anstoldos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anstoldos manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Anstoldos's guard.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Anstoldos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz prevents Anstoldos from getting back to his feet.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Anstoldos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anstoldos manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Anstoldos's guard.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Anstoldos is trying to keep Cruz in close.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Anstoldos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anstoldos manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Anstoldos's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz preventing the sweep.

Cruz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Anstoldos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cruz has Anstoldos in his guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Anstoldos from controlling successfully.
Anstoldos wants to pass the guard but Cruz is keeping the 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.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cruz looks gassed!
Anstoldos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anstoldos stands and throws Cruz's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Anstoldos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstoldos wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Anstoldos tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cruz is looking to reverse the position.

That's four 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.
Anstoldos trying to control the position but Cruz is working away.

Anstoldos is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.

Anstoldos is trying to get an arm triangle but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergio Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Anstoldos misses with a series of wild punches.
Anstoldos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anstoldos tries to clinch

and Cruz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Anstoldos's guard now.
Anstoldos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Anstoldos wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Anstoldos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anstoldos manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Anstoldos's guard.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Anstoldos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anstoldos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Anstoldos doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz postures up.
Anstoldos wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Anstoldos trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
Cruz preventing the sweep.

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.
Anstoldos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Anstoldos throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Anstoldos holds on and takes a little breather.
Anstoldos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Avicus Anstoldos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Anstoldos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cruz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Anstoldos - the referee stops the clock and Cruz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Anstoldos. Cruz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Anstoldos throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstoldos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Anstoldos buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anstoldos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Anstoldos throws a shot to the body.
Anstoldos scores with a sloppy right hand. Cruz should have avoided that one.
Anstoldos throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cruz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Anstoldos lands a nice looking body shot.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstoldos misses with the combination.
Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Anstoldos throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anstoldos connects with a high kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anstoldos swinging wildly here.
Avicus Anstoldos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anstoldos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avicus Anstoldos dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Anstoldos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Anstoldos throws a right hand that Cruz ducks under and follows up with a left that Cruz also avoids with ease.
Anstoldos misses with a series of wild punches.
Anstoldos throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cruz.

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
Anstoldos trying to control from the bottom.

Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Cruz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anstoldos looking for submissions off his back.
Anstoldos is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
Anstoldos punching from the bottom.
Anstoldos is trying to get back to full guard.
Anstoldos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Anstoldos tries to kick Cruz off but Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Anstoldos defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Anstoldos wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy.
Anstoldos is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anstoldos is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Anstoldos wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.

Cruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Anstoldos wants to sweep but no luck.

Anstoldos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Cruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Anstoldos is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstoldos wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.

Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Anstoldos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anstoldos manages to kick Cruz off! Cruz jumps back into Anstoldos's guard.

Anstoldos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Anstoldos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anstoldos controlling Cruz's posture.

Cruz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cruz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Anstoldos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cruz manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Anstoldos drops back looking for a leg! Cruz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cruz manages to kick Anstoldos off! Anstoldos jumps back into Cruz's guard.
Anstoldos passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anstoldos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Avicus Anstoldos.
I think Anstoldos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avicus Anstoldos!