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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Cruz (ranked 663 p4p, 1642 weight class) and Renoa Gracie (ranked 72 p4p, 177 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by I Go to Rio. Pablo Cruz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 178 cm
24
158
8 - 2 - 0 |
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166 cm
24
145
4 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pablo Cruz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gracie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cruz swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gracie drives through and clinches with Cruz against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
Cruz digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Cruz manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz connects with the punch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Gracie tries to counter with a clinch but Cruz shakes him off and moves away.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a hook
and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie advances position into side control!
Gracie staying calm.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cruz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gracie but great work by Cruz.
Cruz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Gracie is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Cruz throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cruz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Cruz in his guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Cruz's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Gracie avoids the body shot from Cruz.
Cruz ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Pablo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cruz.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Cruz pushes him away.
Gracie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie just leaning against Cruz, taking a breather.
Cruz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Cruz holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pablo Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Cruz misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Gracie takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cruz's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cruz manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Gracie wants to hit a sweep here but Cruz passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gracie there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Cruz maintains control.
Cruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie tries to hold on but Cruz postures up.
Cruz stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
A big left from Cruz misses.
Gracie tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cruz slips under a jab from Gracie.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Gracie missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gracie punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cruz avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Pablo Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renoa Gracie.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruz smiles and moves away.
Cruz misses with a looping left.
Gracie is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gracie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.
Gracie has Cruz pushed against the cage.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie jumps guard but Cruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie gets through Cruz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz scores with a hook.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie slips under a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pablo Cruz dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pablo Cruz is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
Cruz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cruz lands a nice hook to Gracie's body. Gracie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Gracie clinches with his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Cruz.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie works on Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
Gracie is stalling here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cruz.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Cruz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gracie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cruz as Gracie tries to tie him up.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gracie misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie jumps guard.
Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cruz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cruz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cruz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Cruz from standing up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cruz won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cruz throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cruz defends it well.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cruz.
Gracie wants to clinch but Cruz slips to the side
and Cruz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cruz throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Renoa Gracie just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Cruz throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Cruz didn't expect that.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Cruz!
Cruz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!
Cruz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cruz is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
Cruz stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Cruz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie wants to counter the offense by Cruz and move into the clinch position.
Gracie lands a lovely overhand right.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie moves into the clinch.
Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stalling in the clinch from Gracie.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie moves away from the strike by Cruz.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Cruz pushes him away.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
Pablo Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz lands the left hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cruz throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Cruz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Cruz!
Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cruz defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pablo Cruz had his way with Renoa Gracie in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a lunging right hand
and Cruz counters with a nice body shot.
Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cruz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.
Cruz misses with a right hand
and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cruz kicks Gracie off and gets to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Gracie dives in and scores a takedown into Cruz's guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cruz's guard.
Renoa Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Cruz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruz is holding on for now.
Renoa Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie misses with some ground and pound and Cruz recovers position to half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Cruz defends it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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 Gracie!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Renoa Gracie!
Renoa Gracie is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Renoa Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
60% |
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