PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ribeiro Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Ezekiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cruz
vs
Ezekiel

188 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ribeiro Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Ezekiel!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ezekiel swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ezekiel has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good leg kick by Ezekiel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Ezekiel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Ezekiel sprawls well.
Ezekiel throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz wants to clinch but Ezekiel slips to the side
and Ezekiel counters with a leg kick.
Ezekiel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ezekiel throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Ezekiel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cruz tries a low kick but Ezekiel avoids it.
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Ezekiel scoring well with a low kick there.

Ezekiel has managed to clinch.
Ezekiel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ezekiel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ezekiel controlling the action here for a moment.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz stalling against the cage.
Cruz tries to break free but Ezekiel pushes him back against the cage.
Ezekiel lands a body shot.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ezekiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.
Cruz slows down the pace here.
Cruz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ezekiel.
Ezekiel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Come on Ezekiel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ezekiel lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Ribeiro Cruz has been cut.
The referee calls for Ezekiel to work.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ezekiel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Ezekiel won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ribeiro Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ezekiel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ezekiel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ezekiel working aggressively here.
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.
Ezekiel avoids the elbow strike from Cruz, against the cage.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ezekiel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel prevents the takedown attempt.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel throws an elbow but it misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Ezekiel lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ezekiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Cruz jumps guard but Ezekiel stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

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.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The referee calls for Cruz to work.
Ezekiel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ezekiel lands a knee to the body.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel throws an elbow that misses.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Ezekiel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ribeiro Cruz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ezekiel has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cruz.
Cruz misses with a knee strike.
Ezekiel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ezekiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ezekiel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Ezekiel holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel presses Cruz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Ezekiel won't allow it.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel misses with an elbow strike.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ezekiel misses with a punch on the inside.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Ezekiel is controlling him.
Ezekiel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the head but Cruz blocks with his arms.
Cruz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ezekiel smiles and moves away.
Ezekiel throws a leg kick but Cruz moved away.
Ribeiro Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ezekiel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Ezekiel counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Ezekiel lands a head kick. Cruz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Ezekiel rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cruz tries to break free but Ezekiel pushes him back against the cage.
Cruz avoids the elbow strike from Ezekiel, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Ezekiel won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ribeiro Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ezekiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ezekiel.
Ezekiel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ezekiel effectively controlling the action here.
Cruz is trying to maintain a safe position but Ezekiel gets an underhook and turns Cruz into the cage.
Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ezekiel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ezekiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz jumps guard but Ezekiel stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Ezekiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.
Ezekiel cracks Cruz with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Ezekiel.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ezekiel.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Ezekiel is controlling him.
Ezekiel tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel working aggressively here.
Ezekiel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ezekiel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Ezekiel struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.
Ezekiel lands a knee to the body.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ezekiel lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Ezekiel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cruz is defending well for now.
Ezekiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz avoiding damage as Ezekiel throws knees to the body.
Cruz blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Ezekiel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ribeiro Cruz's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ezekiel moves into the clinch.
Cruz looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ezekiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Cruz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz tries to clinch but Ezekiel moves away

and Ezekiel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ezekiel.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ezekiel misses with some punches.
Cruz wants to break free but Ezekiel has control.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Cruz jumps guard but Ezekiel stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel stalling in the clinch.
Cruz looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ezekiel scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ezekiel.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel tries to work over Cruz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ezekiel works on Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ezekiel prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Ezekiel won't allow it.
Cruz dodges an elbow strike from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Ezekiel controls his hands.
Ezekiel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ezekiel misses with a body punch.
Johnny Ezekiel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ezekiel has Cruz pushed against the cage.
Ezekiel lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Ezekiel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Cruz trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel tries a body shot but Cruz blocks it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Ezekiel holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruz drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ribeiro Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz being controlled against the cage.
Cruz fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ezekiel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cruz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ezekiel counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ezekiel thows a leg kick but Cruz checks it
and Cruz counters with a good, hard body kick but Ezekiel shrugs it off.
Ezekiel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Good leg kick by Ezekiel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ezekiel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ezekiel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Ezekiel cracks the inside of Cruz's front leg.
Johnny Ezekiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ezekiel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cruz slips a jab from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ezekiel throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Ezekiel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ezekiel throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ezekiel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cruz's brow.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ezekiel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cruz.
Ezekiel missing with knees to the body.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Ezekiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Cruz avoids the damage to the body.
Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ezekiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Ezekiel trying to land knees to the body.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Ezekiel.
Ribeiro Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Ezekiel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cruz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Ezekiel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ezekiel 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Ezekiel!