PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabre comes to the cage accompanied by this pain feel real. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sabre
vs
Cruz

183 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
24
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Sabre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leon Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz is looking to clinch but Sabre is avoiding it.
Sabre wants to clinch.

Cruz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Sabre looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to control but Sabre is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sabre wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sabre defending well though.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sabre defends it well.
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 is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sabre has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cruz is looking for a kimura but Sabre is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cruz to get the leverage.
Sabre gets back to full guard.

Cruz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sabre manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cruz has Sabre in his guard.
Sabre postures up in Cruz's guard and throws a big left but Cruz blocks it.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sabre can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sabre has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sabre trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sabre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sabre's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sabre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sabre avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sabre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cruz looks gassed!
Sabre passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sabre takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sabre seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sabre is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.
Sabre working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sabre wants to free his trapped foot but Cruz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sabre thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sabre lands a nice short elbow.
Sabre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cruz is trying to control but Sabre manages to pass to mount!
Cruz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sabre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cruz is trying to control but Sabre passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Sabre will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sabre tries a head kick but it misses.
Sabre leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sabre can't break the clinch.
Sabre is trying to push Cruz away but Cruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sabre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cruz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz prevents Sabre from breaking the clinch.
Sabre wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cruz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sabre to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabre manages to break the clinch.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sabre napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sabre manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sabre is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz throws an elbow that misses. Sabre uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cruz's guard. Nice move by Sabre!
Sabre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sabre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cruz lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Sabre lands a couple of digs.
Sabre pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sabre stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Sabre misses.
Sabre fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sabre napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sabre tries to bench press Cruz off him but Cruz keeps the position.

Cruz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sabre has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sabre 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sabre knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Cruz is trying to get an arm triangle but Sabre is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to stand but Sabre has his arm trapped.
Sabre regains half guard there - taking advantage of Cruz's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Sabre is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sabre throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Chris Sabre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sabre is keeping the position for now.

Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sabre has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Sabre's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Sabre will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sabre tries to clinch up

and Cruz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sabre clinches.

Cruz pulls Sabre into guard.
Sabre trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sabre postures up.
Sabre landing some decent shots from guard.
Sabre with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sabre is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sabre defends it easily.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sabre with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sabre pushes down on Cruz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.

Sabre is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cruz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sabre throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre lands a couple of elbows.
Sabre trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Sabre is in close to Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sabre looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Sabre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sabre wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sabre is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cruz is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sabre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sabre is working Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sabre is in close to Cruz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sabre is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sabre.

Cruz is working an open guard so Sabre takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sabre napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sabre manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cruz's best efforts.
Chris Sabre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is stalling here. Sabre is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Cruz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sabre has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabre controls the position.

Sabre stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A combination from Sabre does no damage.
Sabre shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cruz defends it nicely.
Sabre tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily
and Cruz counters with a big head kick but Sabre shrugs it off.
Leon Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Chris Sabre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabre looks to land a combination. Cruz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Sabre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sabre has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Sabre!
Chris Sabre decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.