PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kale Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zell Dincht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Welcome to the Jungle. Dincht has chosen Fanfare as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cruz
vs
Dincht

168 cm
36
163 lbs
35 - 20 - 0

179 cm
29
164 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 35 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kale Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zell Dincht!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dincht was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dincht to the mat! Dincht manages to get full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dincht managing to control the position.
Cruz trying to control but Dincht is working from the bottom.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cruz is fighting to break Dincht's control of his arms but Dincht is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Zell Dincht has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Cruz gets caught flat footed, as Dincht shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dincht trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dincht is one step ahead there.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Dincht tries to pass.
Dincht wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zell Dincht was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A big left from Cruz misses.
A big right from Cruz misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dincht thows a body shot but no joy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dincht. That's going to slow Cruz down.
Dincht shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Dincht's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dincht with a jab.
Cruz lands a jab.
Cruz cracks Dincht with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cruz connects with a solid leg kick.
Dincht thows a body shot but no joy.

Dincht drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz controls Dincht momentarily but Dincht frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz looking for a sweep. Not yet Cruz, not yet.
Dincht trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dincht trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Dincht passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to hold on to Dincht's head to control him but Dincht postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cruz is controlling Dincht's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Cruz gets back to full guard.
Dincht preventing the sweep.
Dincht trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Dincht is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dincht looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Dincht from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Zell Dincht has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dincht uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dincht looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dincht circles away quickly and effectively.
Dincht is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Dincht ducks under a wild hook from Cruz.
Cruz throws out a loose jab but Dincht uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dincht wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cruz takes a swing at Dincht's ribcage but misses.
Dincht sizes up Cruz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dincht thows a body kick. Cruz tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dincht shoots in looking for a takedown. Cruz tries to sprawl out of it but Dincht keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cruz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dincht uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
A good leg kick by Cruz.
Kale Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Dincht holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruz stalling in the clinch but Dincht improves position.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Dincht's takedown attempt.
Kale Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zell Dincht.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Cruz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dincht keeps working.
Cruz grinds an elbow into Dincht's temple.
Cruz trying to control the position but Dincht is working away.
Dincht 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.
Cruz trying to control the position but Dincht is working away.
Cruz working away.
You can see the frustration on Dincht's face as Cruz controls the position.
Cruz working the ground and pound from side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Dincht is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz misses with the ground and pound.
Cruz wants to control but Dincht is keeping him busy.
Cruz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dincht is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dincht manages to get back to half guard.
Cruz prevents Dincht from improving his position.
Cruz lands strikes from half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control the action but Dincht is working from the bottom.
Dincht is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruz is in close to Dincht's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dincht wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.
Dincht wants to control but Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dincht is looking to improve his position.
Dincht moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cruz pushes down on Dincht's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dincht moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dincht working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cruz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dincht is adopting a defensive guard.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Dincht is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Kale Cruz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dincht closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Dincht pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dincht throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
Dincht closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruz circles away.
Dincht tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kale Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zell Dincht.
Dincht shoots for a double leg takedown but Cruz sprawls well. He's pushed Dincht's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Dincht counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dincht misses the shot to the body.

Cruz gets the takedown into side control.
Cruz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dincht some visible discomfort.
Cruz misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dincht sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Dincht to regain full guard.
Dincht looking for a sweep. Not yet Dincht, not yet.
Dincht utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dincht is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruz is working Dincht over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kale Cruz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dincht is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dincht keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dincht wants to sweep here but Cruz controlling him for the moment.
Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz postures up.
Cruz trying to control but Dincht is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Dincht is looking for a sweep.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dincht sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cruz lands some shots froms side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Dincht!
Cruz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dincht is looking to escape.

Cruz jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dincht is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dincht and Cruz has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cruz trying to control the position but Dincht is working away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz taking a breather here.
Dincht wants to control but Cruz postures up.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to move to mount but Dincht blocks the move with his legs.
Dincht manages to get back to half guard.
Dincht trying to control but Cruz postures up.
Dincht blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Dincht moves into full guard.
Dincht looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Dincht working a defensive guard here.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Dincht keeps moving.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Dincht keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kale Cruz.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dincht enables Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dincht manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cruz is pushing down on Dincht's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dincht is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dincht is trying is best to control the position here.
Dincht trying to control from the bottom.

Dincht actively working from the bottom here.
Cruz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dincht on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Dincht taking some punishment here, with Cruz in his half guard.
Dincht is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Dincht looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dincht blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
Cruz is stalling here. Dincht 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 Dincht has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Cruz manages to get back to half guard.

Dincht is working for a submission of some sort.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dincht prevents Cruz from standing back up.

Dincht is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cruz is just riding it out for now. Dincht eventually gives up the hold.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dincht is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cruz sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kale Cruz dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dincht tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz scores with a nice body kick.
Cruz lands a slapping body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dincht is defended easily by Cruz.
Cruz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cruz blocks the body kick.
Dincht misses with a wild combination.

Cruz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dincht is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cruz is controlling the pace.
Dincht manages to get to full guard.
Cruz working some strikes from top position.
Cruz postures up.
Cruz trying to control but Dincht is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Dincht.
Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dincht bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruz's guard.
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 stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Dincht is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dincht keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz is looking to advance position but Dincht won't allow it.
Dincht is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control. Dincht wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cruz working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Dincht's thigh. Dincht counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Cruz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dincht is trying to keep Cruz in close.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cruz cracks Dincht with a solid left hand.
Cruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dincht looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zell Dincht was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cruz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dincht.
Cruz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz scores with a shot to the body.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick.
Cruz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dincht counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dincht trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dincht looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dincht trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Dincht takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dincht can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Dincht pushes his legs off easily.
Dincht forces his way into half guard.

Dincht looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.

Dincht seems to be working for a kimura but Cruz defends the submission attempt.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard but Dincht has mounted him!
Cruz tries to lock up and control but Dincht gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cruz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Dincht looking to break Cruz's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cruz remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Dincht will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Dincht looking for the choke but no joy.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Dincht working for a choke but Cruz reverses nicely into Dincht 's guard.
Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dincht wants to control but Cruz passes easily into half guard.
Dincht is pressing down on Cruz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zell Dincht.
Well Cruz 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Kale Cruz!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Kale Cruz!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Kale Cruz!

Kale Cruz wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Kale Cruz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.