PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Messias Enrrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julio Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Enrrique
vs
Cruz

165 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
152 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Messias Enrrique!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Enrrique bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cruz struggling a bit here.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Enrrique not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Enrrique is trying to control. Cruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Enrrique is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cruz trying to hold on to Enrrique's head to control him but Enrrique postures up.
Enrrique working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Enrrique is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Enrrique shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into guard.

Enrrique is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz cracks Enrrique with a big right hand but Enrrique just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cruz is working Enrrique over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cruz lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz advances to mount.

Enrrique defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cruz.
Cruz looks gassed!
Cruz tries to control but Enrrique wriggling away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cruz prevents Enrrique from getting the reversal.
Cruz wants to take his opponent's back but Enrrique doesn't allow it.
Cruz scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Enrrique?
Enrrique manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Enrrique avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cruz.
Enrrique is looking to improve his position.
Enrrique trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Cruz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Cruz is working for a guillotine from mount but Enrrique frees his head quite easily.
Cruz with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cruz looking to finish Enrrique with some ground and pound. This is bad for Enrrique!

Cruz working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Enrrique can't escape the position.
Enrrique prevents Cruz from taking his back.
Enrrique tries to hold on but Cruz postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Donk. Cruz catches Enrrique right on the button with a cross.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.

Enrrique shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Enrrique was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Julio Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz is looking to improve his position but Enrrique isn't that keen on the idea.
Cruz regains half guard.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Enrrique has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Enrrique is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Enrrique defends well.

Enrrique got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Enrrique has managed to get both his arms back between Cruz's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Enrrique doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Enrrique manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cruz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Enrrique wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Enrrique trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Enrrique preventing the sweep.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz controls Enrrique momentarily but Enrrique frees himself.
Enrrique knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Enrrique pushes his legs off easily.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Enrrique can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to control.
Cruz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Enrrique has passed into side control.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
Enrrique takes a little break here. Cruz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
An elbow from Enrrique crashes against the mat.
Cruz regains half guard.
Cruz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four 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 preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Enrrique!
Cruz mounts Enrrique! Really nice guard pass there!

Cruz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Enrrique is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Enrrique and Cruz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cruz controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Enrrique misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.

Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Enrrique keeps moving.
Cruz thows a big elbow that misses.
Cruz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Enrrique's guard.
Enrrique gets full guard.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Enrrique is retaining full guard.
Enrrique keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Enrrique pulls Cruz in to control the position.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Enrrique tries to buck Cruz off but Cruz is having none of it.

Cruz has hold of Enrrique's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Enrrique seems comfortable defending it but Cruz has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Enrrique is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Enrrique is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Cruz couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Julio Cruz!
Julio Cruz is the new featherweight champion!