PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucien Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Barklong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barklong has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Leo Barklong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cruz
vs
Barklong

204 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucien Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Leo Barklong!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barklong finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barklong looks winded!
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barklong shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cruz tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barklong manages to circle out of the way.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Barklong tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barklong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Barklong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucien Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Barklong or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cruz not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Cruz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barklong is just riding it out for now. Cruz eventually gives up the hold.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barklong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Cruz is working for a kimura but Barklong is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barklong trying to control but Cruz postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Barklong's head.
Ground and pound from Cruz.
Barklong taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cruz trying to control the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barklong can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cruz working over Barklong with some ground and pound. Barklong looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Barklong is looking to improve his position.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Barklong trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barklong is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.
Barklong is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cruz lands a nice short elbow.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucien Cruz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leo Barklong's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barklong as he avoids it easily.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Barklong sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucien Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Barklong was covering up waiting for the punch and Cruz finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Barklong is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barklong trying to control the position.
Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barklong's head.

Cruz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cruz cracks Barklong with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Cruz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barklong, up you get!
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barklong defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Barklong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Barklong sprawls well.
Barklong tries to counter by closing the distance.
Barklong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barklong wants to counter the offense by Cruz and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barklong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barklong unleashes a big counter combination but Cruz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Barklong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barklong tries to counter with a clinch but Cruz shakes him off and moves away.

Barklong moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cruz throws an elbow but misses.

Barklong turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cruz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Barklong is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barklong wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Barklong off and has taken his back!
Cruz lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Cruz has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Barklong! Can he survive? No! He's out! Cruz gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lucien Cruz!