PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Dela Cruz (ranked 3684 p4p, 424 weight class) and Luiz Araujo (ranked 2644 p4p, 330 weight class). Araujo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Who Shot Ya? kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dela Cruz
vs
Araujo

182 cm
40
218 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

187 cm
36
221 lbs
17 - 22 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luiz Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dela Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Luiz Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Araujo misses.
Araujo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Dela Cruz's head backwards.

Araujo shoots in and bounces Dela Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dela Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela Cruz keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.
Dela Cruz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dela Cruz looking to control but Araujo passes into half guard.
Dela Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo working Dela Cruz over with strikes.
Araujo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Dela Cruz tries to hold on but Araujo pushes him away.
Dela Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Araujo unloads with some shots from mount but Dela Cruz bucks and avoids them well.
Dela Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Araujo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Dela Cruz has worked his arm free - good work by Dela Cruz!
Araujo is looking to take a break and control but Dela Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo working the head with strikes.
Dela Cruz is trying to improve his position.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Araujo postures up.
Araujo is looking to take a break and control but Dela Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Araujo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Araujo enables Dela Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Araujo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dela Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Dela Cruz postures up and lands a big shot to Araujo's brow.
Araujo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Araujo working for a triangle but Dela Cruz defends it easily.
Dela Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Araujo tries to bench press Dela Cruz off him but Dela Cruz keeps the position.
Dela Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Araujo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dela Cruz is controlling him well.
Dela Cruz has control of an arm but Araujo manages to advance to Dela Cruz's back!
Dela Cruz breaks Araujo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Araujo is trying to hold Dela Cruz in close to prevent damage but Dela Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Araujo wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping busy.
Dela Cruz wants to take a breather but Araujo is having none of it.
Araujo wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Araujo has hold of Dela Cruz's hands but Dela Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Araujo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Dela Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Araujo sees it coming and defends easily.
Dela Cruz uses his free foot to push down on Araujo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Araujo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luiz Araujo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Araujo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dela Cruz circles away.
Araujo tries to clinch up.

Dela Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Dela Cruz is trying to work for a kimura but Araujo is defending well.
Araujo tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.
Dela Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Araujo is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Dela Cruz is tapping! Great win for Araujo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Luiz Araujo!
Luiz Araujo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.