PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darian Cruz (ranked 851 p4p, 1631 weight class) and Mono Loco (ranked 100 p4p, 182 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Loco

171 cm
32
145
8 - 4 - 0

168 cm
31
152
10 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Core Combat

Glomco Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darian Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mono Loco!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cruz.
Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Loco.
Cruz lands with an overhand left.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.

Loco gets a takedown into half guard.
Loco wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Loco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz gets full guard.
Cruz 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.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Loco controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loco stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
Loco content to stall in guard here.
Loco wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cruz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Darian Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

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.
Loco misses with a takedown
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Loco shoots in but no luck this time.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Darian Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mono Loco.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Loco moved out of range.
Loco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Loco shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Loco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Loco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Loco perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Loco trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.
Cruz wants to improve his position but Loco is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz tries to kick Loco off but Loco keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Loco is looking for a kimura but Cruz is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Loco to get the leverage.
Cruz trying to hold on to Loco's head to control him but Loco postures up.

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.
Cruz is trying to control but Loco manages to pass to mount!

Loco swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cruz is now in Loco's guard. A big mistake from Loco there, giving up the dominant position!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Loco holds on and takes a little breather.
Cruz wants to stand but Loco is controlling his posture from full guard.
Our spies down at at Xtramarital Floating Shingles inform us that Loco has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Loco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cruz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Loco's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darian Cruz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz dips to his left and cracks Loco with an uppercut!
Loco takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Loco was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Loco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Loco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It looked like Cruz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Loco shoots and misses
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Loco shoots in but Cruz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Darian Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mono Loco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Loco.
Cruz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cruz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cruz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz misses with a double jab

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cruz is trying to keep Loco in close.
Loco preventing the sweep.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Loco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Loco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Loco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Loco back to the cage. Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Cruz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Loco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Loco.
Loco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz trying to control the position.
Loco stays in close to Cruz's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Loco from controlling successfully.
Cruz controls Loco momentarily but Loco frees himself.
Cruz wants to stand but Loco is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Loco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Loco dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
An attempted straight right counter from Cruz misses the target.
Cruz throws the left hand but Loco avoids the punch easily.
Cruz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cruz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cruz throws a body punch but Loco moves out of range.
Loco misses with a takedown attempt
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Loco with the counter takedown but Cruz avoids it easily.
Loco tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily
and Cruz counters with a one-two to the body.
Loco on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Loco manages to avoid it.
Loco feints the counter takedown.
Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darian Cruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Cruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Loco closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Loco pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz misses with an uppercut.
And Loco tries to counter it with a takedown but Cruz pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Loco shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.
Loco closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Darian Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Loco moved out of range.
Loco has his takedown stuffed
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Darian Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mono Loco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loco dives in for a single leg takedown but Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Loco closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cruz quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loco is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Loco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Loco prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Loco wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.

Loco is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Loco can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Loco content to control rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cruz manages to get to full guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Loco from controlling successfully.
Mono Loco has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darian Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for Cruz.
Loco has a takedown stuffed.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Loco.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loco circles away quickly and effectively.
Loco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
A shot to the liver by Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
Darian Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Loco.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've been told by Cruz's head coaches at Clinch Pride that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps Loco's head back.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Loco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Loco was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Loco's shoulder, as Loco tries to avoid the shot.
Loco misses with a takedown
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Loco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice shot lands for Cruz.
Cruz takes a swing at Loco's ribcage but misses.
Mono Loco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cruz blocks the body kick.
It looked like Cruz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Loco.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darian Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darian Cruz!
In his post fight interview, Darian Cruz started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.