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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darian Cruz (ranked 21495 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezekiel Ithamar (ranked 2101 p4p, 211 weight class). Cruz's entrance music is System Of A Down - Aerials . A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 173 cm
26
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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176 cm
31
145 lbs
25 - 7 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank |
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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 Amsterdam, Darian Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezekiel Ithamar!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ithamar throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ithamar sprawls and moves away.
Ithamar closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Ithamar pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz dives in and grabs Ithamar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ithamar pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ithamar drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cruz strikes from his own guard.
Ithamar trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ithamar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ithamar.
Ithamar postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ithamar manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ithamar has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.
Ithamar 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 content to stall in guard here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz passes Ithamar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Ithamar is defending well.
Ithamar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cruz working Ithamar over with strikes.
Cruz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Ithamar won't allow it.
Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ithamar's head.
Ithamar is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Ithamar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Ithamar tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Ithamar won't allow it.
Cruz working over Ithamar with some ground and pound. Ithamar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ithamar is in trouble now - Cruz has advanced to mount!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar wants to hold on but Cruz pushes him away.
Ithamar working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz looking to finish Ithamar with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ithamar!
Cruz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cruz landing strikes from the mount.
Cruz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cruz looking to control but Ithamar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cruz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cruz landing strikes from the mount and Ithamar is in trouble!
Cruz trying to control but Ithamar is having none of it.
Cruz is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ithamar has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ithamar!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ithamar won't allow Cruz to sweep him here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ithamar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ithamar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cruz is working for a kimura but Ithamar is defending it quite comfortably.
Ithamar actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Ithamar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Darian Cruz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Ithamar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ithamar can do to turn this around?
Cruz manages to get to full guard.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Ithamar tries to pass.
Ithamar wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Ithamar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ithamar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ithamar trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ithamar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ithamar stopping the sweep attempt from Cruz.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Ithamar tries to pass.
Cruz controls Ithamar momentarily but Ithamar frees himself.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ithamar works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ithamar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ithamar.
Cruz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cruz working for a triangle but Ithamar defends it easily.
Ithamar landing some decent shots from guard.
Ithamar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.
Cruz managing to control the position.
Ithamar is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ithamar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Darian Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cruz preventing the sweep.
Cruz stands up over Ithamar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ithamar 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.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a couple of digs.
Ithamar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Ithamar working for a triangle but Cruz defends it easily.
Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Ithamar is retaining full guard.
Ithamar being controlled here, momentarily.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Ithamar is keeping the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Ithamar keeps moving.
Cruz passes Ithamar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cruz prevents Ithamar from improving his position.
Cruz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ithamar with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cruz working over Ithamar with some ground and pound. Ithamar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cruz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cruz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cruz is looking for a kimura but Ithamar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cruz to get the leverage.
Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ithamar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ithamar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ithamar has hold of Cruz's hands but Cruz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Darian Cruz dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ithamar.
Ezekiel Ithamar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ithamar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruz as he jumps to the side.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Ithamar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Ithamar on that attempt.
As Ithamar looks to move away, Cruz throws a big counter combo but Ithamar just gets out of the way.
Darian Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezekiel Ithamar.
Ithamar smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Ithamar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Ithamar sprawls well.
Ithamar throws a leg kick but Cruz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruz instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ithamar avoids a wild elbow strike from Cruz.
Ithamar tries for a takedown but Cruz manages to get underhooks.
Ithamar 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.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Ithamar's takedown attempt.
Ithamar looking for a takedown.
Cruz is trying to trip Ithamar. He has hold of a leg but Ithamar is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cruz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ithamar is trying to keep Cruz in close.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ithamar is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is looking for a triangle but Cruz pushes his legs off easily.
Cruz advances to half guard.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cruz passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cruz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ithamar can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ithamar is trying desperately to improve position.
Cruz with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ithamar is squirming around, avoiding Cruz's attempts to control the action.
The referee warns Ithamar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Cruz.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ithamar tries to reverse the position but Cruz maintains control.
Ezekiel Ithamar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ithamar sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ithamar actively working from the bottom here.
Ithamar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Ithamar wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Ithamar's head.
Ithamar is rocked!
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ithamar is still in real trouble! Can Cruz finish him?
Ithamar with the active half guard here but Cruz passes nicely into side control.
Cruz working the ground and pound.
Ithamar is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Ithamar seems to have recovered his senses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ithamar to see if he's OK.
Ithamar takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cruz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cruz lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ithamar taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cruz cracks Ithamar with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Cruz immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Ithamar is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Cruz!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darian Cruz!
Darian Cruz took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Kato for their support in the buildup to the fight.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
59% |
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