PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kim Barnes (ranked 5893 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilherme Cruz (ranked 24319 p4p, 0 weight class). Guilherme Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barnes
vs
Cruz

151 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Kim Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guilherme Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Cruz moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cruz.
Barnes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barnes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Barnes scores with a head kick.
Barnes tries to clinch
and Cruz counters with a three punch combo that has Barnes backing up. Barnes nods at Cruz to acknowledge the strikes.

Barnes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barnes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
Barnes trying to strike off his back.

Barnes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barnes working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cruz has passed into half guard!
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Barnes is trying to get back to full guard.
Cruz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz blocks the strikes from Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cruz decides to stand up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Barnes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barnes wants to control but Cruz postures up.
Barnes manages to get back to half guard.
Barnes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barnes.
Barnes wants to sweep but no luck.
Barnes is breathing heavily.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barnes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barnes being controlled here, momentarily.
Barnes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Barnes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cruz decides to pull guard.
Barnes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz is pulling down on Barnes's head to control his posture.
Cruz wants to hit a switch here but Barnes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cruz there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Barnes.
Cruz is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Barnes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz tries to hold on but Barnes postures up.
Cruz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Cruz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barnes is trying to control but can't.
Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Barnes controlling the position for now.
Cruz is thwarting Barnes's attempts to control the position.
Cruz trying to control the action but Barnes is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barnes trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes gets back to half guard.
Barnes wants to control the action here but instead Cruz manages to pass to full mount!
Barnes looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Cruz missing with strikes from the back.
Cruz keeps control of the position as Barnes tries to break free.
Cruz is trying to stick to Barnes's back but Barnes is turning into Cruz. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cruz's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barnes.
Cruz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barnes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Barnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnes landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barnes gets to his feet. Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick misses from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cruz lands with a nice body punch.
Guilherme Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Barnes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cruz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barnes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Guilherme Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Barnes is controlling Cruz's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Barnes trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barnes moves into full guard.
Barnes really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Barnes won't let him.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Barnes being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Cruz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Barnes.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cruz drops Barnes with a beautiful combination! Barnes stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Cruz is looking for the KO!

Barnes is rocked!

It looks like Kim Barnes has been cut.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, brutal head kick from Cruz! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Guilherme Cruz!