PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moritz Zimmerman (ranked 1588 p4p, 2091 weight class) and Ricardo P Cruz (ranked 194 p4p, 242 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Zimmerman
vs
P Cruz

200 cm
33
215
20 - 22 - 1

193 cm
32
225
12 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 20 - 22 - 1, fighting out of London, Moritz Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo P Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
P Cruz misses with a kick to the body

and Zimmerman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

P Cruz has one foot on Zimmerman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

P Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
Zimmerman wants a takedown but no success here.
Zimmerman has P Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. P Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
P Cruz leaning his opponent against the cage.
P Cruz stops a takedown attempt from Zimmerman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moritz Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zimmerman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by P Cruz after a bit of a struggle.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but P Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually Zimmerman drops back down to his feet.
P Cruz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zimmerman backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zimmerman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
P Cruz avoiding damage.
Zimmerman can't get the takedown.

P Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

P Cruz pushes Zimmerman up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on P Cruz - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Zimmerman has P Cruz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zimmerman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending P Cruz tumbling to the mat - Zimmerman dives into P Cruz's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as P Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zimmerman wants to pass the guard but P Cruz is keeping the position.
Zimmerman prevents P Cruz from getting back to his feet.
P Cruz has control of Zimmerman's left arm, preventing Zimmerman from doing any damage.
Zimmerman slips nicely into half guard.
P Cruz is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Zimmerman is working for a submission of some sort.
P Cruz is trying to stand.

Zimmerman seems to be working for a kimura but P Cruz defends the submission attempt.

Zimmerman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Zimmerman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
P Cruz trying to hold on to Zimmerman's head to control him but Zimmerman postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman seems to be working for a kimura but P Cruz defends the submission attempt.
P Cruz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zimmerman throws a big right hand that misses.

Zimmerman has gone for a leg lock! P Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zimmerman's guard.

Zimmerman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Zimmerman is looking for a triangle here but P Cruz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Zimmerman is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

P Cruz stands up out of the half guard.
Good shot there by P Cruz.

P Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zimmerman, pushing him back against the cage.
Zimmerman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

P Cruz breaks from the clinch.
P Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.

P Cruz moves into the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

P Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zimmerman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zimmerman drops down looking for a counter takedown but P Cruz sprawls and moves away.
P Cruz misses with a leg kick

and Zimmerman counters with a nice double leg into side control. P Cruz won't be happy with that.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo P Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

P Cruz has Zimmerman up against the cage in a clinch.
Zimmerman takes a shot to the head.
P Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Zimmerman has worked for underhooks and has pushed P Cruz into the cage.
P Cruz working Zimmerman over with knees to the body.
P Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
P Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
P Cruz landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
P Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

P Cruz breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zimmerman fails with the takedown
and P Cruz counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moritz Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

P Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but P Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Zimmerman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. P Cruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

P Cruz is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zimmerman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip P Cruz to the mat. P Cruz regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
P Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

P Cruz pushes Zimmerman off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ricardo P Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

P Cruz rushes Zimmerman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
P Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.

P Cruz breaks the clinch.
Zimmerman darts in looking for a takedown but P Cruz gets double underhooks and turns Zimmerman into the cage.
Zimmerman wants to take the fight to the mat but P Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but P Cruz won't allow it.

P Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking body kick lands there for P Cruz.
Nice cross by P Cruz.
Zimmerman slips a jab and a cross from P Cruz.
A slapping body kick lands there for P Cruz.
A looping hook to the body misses from P Cruz. Zimmerman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zimmerman attempts a counter takedown but P Cruz avoids it well and moves away.
Ricardo P Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

P Cruz closes the distance and pushes Zimmerman back into the cage.
P Cruz is trying to stall.
P Cruz scores with a hook to the body.
Zimmerman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. P Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ricardo P Cruz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
P Cruz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zimmerman goes for a takedown attempt but P Cruz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

P Cruz gets a clinch.
Zimmerman is working for takedown but P Cruz is calmly controlling the position for now.
P Cruz stalling against the cage.

P Cruz breaks the clinch.
Zimmerman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

P Cruz closes the distance and pushes Zimmerman back into the cage.
P Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Zimmerman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag P Cruz down to the mat. P Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Crunch! P Cruz slams his shin into Zimmerman's torso.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
P Cruz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zimmerman is trying to drag P Cruz to the mat but P Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
P Cruz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
P Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zimmerman tries to score a body lock takedown but P Cruz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

P Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
P Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zimmerman circles away quickly and effectively.
Zimmerman drops down looking for a counter takedown but P Cruz sprawls and moves away.
P Cruz throws a right and a left that Zimmerman avoids nicely.
Zimmerman dodges the punch combination from P Cruz.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo P Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

P Cruz clinches up with Zimmerman and pushes him back against the cage.
P Cruz tries to land knees in the clinch but Zimmerman avoids the damage to the body.
P Cruz trying to stall but Zimmerman improves his position.

P Cruz manages to break the clinch.

P Cruz darts in and clinches Zimmerman up against the cage.
Zimmerman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
P Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
P Cruz scores with a shot to the side of Zimmerman's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
P Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Zimmerman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but P Cruz regains guard immediately.
P Cruz wants to stand but Zimmerman is controlling the position.
P Cruz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as P Cruz holds on and takes a little breather.
Zimmerman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
P Cruz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
P Cruz is looking to stand up but Zimmerman isn't so interested in that idea.
Zimmerman won't allow P Cruz to sweep him here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Zimmerman advances to half guard.
P Cruz is trying to stand.

P Cruz has one foot on Zimmerman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
P Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zimmerman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but P Cruz is defending well.

Zimmerman turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zimmerman manages to end up in side control.

P Cruz sneaks out the side door and pushes Zimmerman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
P Cruz lands with a cross.
P Cruz swinging wildly here.
P Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zimmerman.
Zimmerman attempts a counter takedown but P Cruz avoids it well and moves away.
P Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
P Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zimmerman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zimmerman.
P Cruz trying to control the position.
P Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet P Cruz, not yet.
Zimmerman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
P Cruz keeping full guard, as Zimmerman tries to pass.
P Cruz looking to control.

Zimmerman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! P Cruz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zimmerman, into his guard.

P Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman is working an open guard so P Cruz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
P Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zimmerman dodges the punch combination from P Cruz.
Zimmerman tries to counter with a takedown but P Cruz is quick to defend against it.

P Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.
P Cruz landing knees to the head.

It looks like Moritz Zimmerman has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but P Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moritz Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zimmerman wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
P Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Zimmerman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag P Cruz down to the mat. P Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Moritz Zimmerman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo P Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

P Cruz moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo P Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well P Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo P Cruz!