PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Berrao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cruz
vs
Berrao

170 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Miguel Cruz!
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, Danny Berrao!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berrao cracks Cruz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Berrao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Berrao lands an overhand right.
Horrible takedown by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Berrao which made him look bad.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Berrao works Cruz's body with a nice hook.
Danny Berrao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cruz clinches.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Berrao to score with a decent uppercut.
Berrao throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berrao lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Berrao lands a right hook to the body.
Berrao scores with a jab to the body.
Berrao scores with a push kick.

Cruz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz stands up.
Berrao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Berrao darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Berrao tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Berrao lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Miguel Cruz has been cut.
Berrao scores with a punch to the head.
Berrao thuds his right hand into Cruz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Berrao with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Berrao has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Berrao misses with a few strikes there.
Nice cross by Berrao.
Berrao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Berrao connects with a body shot that sends Cruz's belly button to the back.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berrao lands with a shot to the body.
Berrao connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Cruz stands up and beckons Berrao to his feet.
Berrao takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Berrao swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Berrao lands a two punch combo.
A left and a right from Berrao both land. Nice combination.
Berrao's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Berrao duly obliges.
Berrao is working the combinations to good effect here.
Berrao lands a two punch combo.
Horrible takedown by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Berrao which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berrao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Berrao lands a leg kick that knocks Cruz off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berrao connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Berrao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Berrao scores with a nice right hand.
Berrao's corner calls for a 1-2. Berrao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Berrao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cruz tries to clinch there but Berrao circles away.
Berrao lands a really nice looking cross but Cruz seems unphased.
Berrao is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Cruz had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Berrao cracks Cruz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cruz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A left and a right from Berrao both land. Nice combination.
Berrao lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Berrao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Berrao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Berrao lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Berrao keeps the fight on the outside.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berrao throws a combination. Cruz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Berrao clobbers Cruz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Berrao stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Berrao as he jumps to the side.
Cruz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Berrao.
Cruz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Berrao lands a jab-cross combination.
Berrao connects with a body shot that sends Cruz's belly button to the back.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Berrao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Berrao feints a jab promting Cruz to slip. Berrao then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Berrao with a jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Left hook, right uppercut from Berrao.
A nice combination there by Berrao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Berrao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Cruz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Berrao is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Berrao circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Berrao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Berrao slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Berrao tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Berrao.
A decent looking cross lands there for Berrao.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Berrao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Berrao connects with a high kick.
Berrao lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berrao cracks Cruz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Berrao bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cruz's head.
Cruz takes a jab right on the kisser.
Berrao fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Berrao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Danny Berrao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Berrao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Berrao lands a body shot.
Berrao throws a head kick that misses.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Berrao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Cruz drives through with a takedown into Berrao's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Berrao keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Berrao wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Miguel Cruz.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Berrao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Berrao thuds his right hand into Cruz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Berrao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cruz. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berrao lands with a kick to the temple. Cruz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Berrao.
Danny Berrao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Berrao scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Berrao fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Berrao keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Berrao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Berrao fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cruz on the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Berrao as he connects with a hook.
Berrao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Berrao cracks Cruz with a good jab.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Berrao sprawls well.
Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Berrao lands with a good body shot.
Cruz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Berrao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berrao connects with a body shot.
Nice shot by Berrao.
Berrao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berrao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Berrao lands with a good body shot.
Berrao punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Berrao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cruz doesn't seem bothered though.
Berrao lands with a hook. Cruz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Berrao smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Miguel Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berrao misses with a double jab.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Berrao, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Berrao against the cage but Berrao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Berrao pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cruz back to the cage. Berrao follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Berrao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Miguel Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Berrao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Berrao avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Berrao lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Berrao lands with an overhand left.
Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice straight punches there by Berrao. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Berrao.
A nice leg kick lands there from Berrao.
Berrao scores with a three punch combo!
Berrao is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Berrao saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Berrao works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berrao cracks Cruz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berrao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Berrao connects with a looping right hand.
Berrao pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cruz back to the cage. Berrao follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Berrao scores with a nice right hand.
Berrao lands with a shot to the body.
Berrao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cruz ducks right into an uppercut from Berrao.
Cruz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Berrao. That one must have hurt.
Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Berrao delivers a nice body kick.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cruz trying to control the action but Berrao is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Miguel Cruz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Berrao fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cruz.
Berrao cracks Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Berrao, right into the meat.
Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Berrao can pounce on him.
Berrao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Berrao's corner calls for a 1-2. Berrao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Berrao works over Cruz's head and body with a nice combination.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Berrao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cruz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cruz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berrao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Berrao, as that shot connected.
Berrao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cruz looking to score a takedown here. Berrao is defending well but Cruz drives through and ends up in Berrao's guard.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cruz stands and steps away. Berrao gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cruz shoots for a takedown but Berrao saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berrao with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Berrao connects with a crisp jab.
Miguel Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berrao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Berrao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Berrao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Berrao!