PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Macena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Macena
vs
Cruz

190 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Macena!
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, Michel Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Macena gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Macena is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Macena eventually gives up the hold.

Macena is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Macena wants to take a breather but Cruz is having none of it.

Cruz is defending against the submission attempts here by Macena.
Cruz is positioning himself well to prevent Macena advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control but Macena is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Macena is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.

Macena is looking for a kimura here.
Macena lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Macena. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Macena is looking to stall here but Cruz recovers full guard.
Macena has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruz is proving hard to escape from.
Macena preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macena tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
Macena stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Macena stands up from Cruz's guard - Macena perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Macena shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Macena checks a low kick from Cruz.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Macena is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Macena circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Macena shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruz as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Macena. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macena tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Macena.

Cruz gets a clinch.
Macena is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Macena tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Macena shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz tries to clinch but Macena moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.

Macena gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Macena's takedown attempt.
Macena really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Macena is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Macena is breathing heavily.

Cruz pulls guard.
Macena trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Macena in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Macena gets to his feet - Cruz follows without any prompting.
Macena tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cruz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Macena dominated that round.
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.

Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Daniel Macena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macena tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Macena stuffs the takedown.
Macena tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Macena is looking to clinch.
Macena looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruz is fending him off so far but Macena persists. Nope, Cruz circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz tries to bum rush Macena with a series of wild strikes but Macena uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruz.
Daniel Macena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michel Cruz.
Macena misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Macena wants to clinch but Cruz slips to the side
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Macena closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Macena shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throws a front kick that sends Macena stumbling back into the cage.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Macena is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Macena circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz shoots in but Macena avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Macena is defended easily by Cruz.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Macena.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Macena.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Macena, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Macena bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cruz tries to buck Macena off but Macena is having none of it.
Cruz gets back to half guard.
Cruz is looking to control Macena's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Cruz is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Macena is staying active.
Macena is nestled in close to Cruz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Macena is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz is staying active underneath Macena, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is defending against the submission attempts here by Macena.
Daniel Macena overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Macena is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.

Macena wants to work for an arm triangle but Cruz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cruz is staying active underneath Macena, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Macena is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
Cruz gets full guard.
Macena trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Macena postures up.
Macena will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Macena landing with the ground and pound.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Macena from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Macena dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Macena fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cruz enables Macena to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cruz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Macena wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Macena controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Macena has gone for a leg lock! Cruz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Macena's guard.
Macena keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Macena has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Macena's legs - danger averted.

Macena is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cruz is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Macena keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macena striking off his back but it's not causing Cruz any problems.
Macena pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cruz trying to control but Macena is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michel Cruz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Macena is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.

Macena closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cruz to the mat! Cruz manages to get full guard.
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!
Cruz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cruz is trying to keep Macena in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macena slips nicely into half guard.

Macena in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Cruz tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Macena!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Daniel Macena!