PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zack Barch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernesto Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernesto Cruz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Barch
vs
Cruz

190 cm
24
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zack Barch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ernesto Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Barch back to the cage. Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.

Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Barch uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barch is one step ahead there.

Cruz scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barch quickly recovers to half 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!
Barch controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.
Cruz tries to stand and escape but Barch actually recovers to full guard.
Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barch knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cruz on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barch managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zack Barch just wasn't active enough.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Barch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barch slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barch is trying to defend but Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to control. Barch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barch is positioning himself well to prevent Cruz advancing to mount.
Barch flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Barch tries to get to full guard but Cruz has control of the leg.

Cruz 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.

Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barch sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barch wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barch wants to improve his position but Cruz is controlling well.
Cruz works his way into side control.
Barch is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Barch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barch tries to improve position but can't.
Cruz blocks the strikes from Barch.
Barch is trying to escape the position but Cruz is controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cruz working away.
Cruz wants to stand but Barch has his arm trapped.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barch can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Cruz dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barch throws a big shot that misses.

Barch gets caught napping as Cruz dives in and scores a takedown. Barch manages to retain guard.
Cruz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Barch keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz is fighting to break Barch's control of his arms but Barch is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cruz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cruz lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Barch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cruz stops Barch from standing up.
Barch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cruz controls the pace.
Barch is trying to control the position but Cruz postures up.
Ernesto Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Ernesto Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cruz tries to land a leg kick but Barch saw it coming and moves away.
Barch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cruz.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barch is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Barch circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Barch keeps it at a distance.
Barch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cruz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barch lands with a light punch inside.
Cruz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Barch is trying to break the clinch but Cruz is controlling him.

Cruz is trying to trip Barch. He has hold of a leg but Barch is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cruz persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barch trying to keep a closed guard but Cruz is proving a slippery customer.
Cruz won't allow Barch to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barch will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Barch trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz tries to move into full mount but can't pass Barch's legs.
Cruz just content to control the position.
Cruz trying to control the position but Barch is working away.
Cruz tries to move into full mount but can't pass Barch's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruz decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz dives in and grabs Barch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barch pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Zack Barch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesto Cruz.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barch but Barch pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barch keeps the fight on the outside.
Barch misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruz connects with a jab.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Barch sprawls well.
Cruz tries to clinch but Barch is having none of it.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Barch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barch circles away.
Zack Barch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernesto Cruz.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Barch circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz throws a combination that misses
and Barch counters with a left to the body.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Barch as Cruz shoots in.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Barch keeps it at a distance.
Zack Barch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barch throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Barch avoids it well.
Barch throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Barch circles away easily
and Barch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Barch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz closes the distance but Barch moves to the side
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to clinch
and Barch counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Zack Barch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barch stuffs the takedown.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Barch, looking for a takedown. Cruz pushes Barch against the cage but Barch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barch swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Barch keeps it at a distance.
Ernesto Cruz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Barch.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Barch circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz slips a straight right by Barch.
Barch misses with a straight right.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zack Barch.
Well Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernesto Cruz!