PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Rico has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rico
vs
Cruz

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
27
222 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benny Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rico trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Rico won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz winds up and cracks Rico with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rico is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cruz winds up and cracks Rico with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Rico defends it.
Cruz working over Rico with some ground and pound. Rico looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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. Cruz connects with a nice short shot to Rico's temple.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cruz slips a nice elbow through Rico's hands, connecting with Rico's forehead.
Rico has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
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. Cruz connects with a nice short shot to Rico's temple.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rico is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rico avoid being mounted?
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rico taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rico taking shots to the head.

Rico is rocked!
Cruz cracks Rico with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benny Cruz!