PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Barry Weaver (ranked 23706 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilherme Cruz (ranked 9111 p4p, 0 weight class). Guilherme Cruz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Weaver
vs
Cruz

207 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Weaver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guilherme Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Weaver has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Weaver blocks the elbow strike.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.

Weaver tries to keep at a distance but Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Weaver really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Weaver.

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Weaver quickly recovers to half guard.
Weaver is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weaver keeps working.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Weaver defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weaver is looking to escape.
Weaver trying to hold on to Cruz's head to control him but Cruz postures up.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Weaver defending well though.
Weaver is trying to stand back up but Cruz is controlling him
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cruz prevents Weaver from improving his position.
Cruz is thwarting Weaver's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cruz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cruz there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Cruz clinches up against the cage.
Cruz slowing the pace effectively.
Cruz landing knees to the body.

Weaver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Weaver gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Weaver pushes Cruz off and scrambles back to his feet.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cruz stops Weaver from standing up.
Weaver will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Weaver keeps moving.
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.
Cruz wants to get up but he can't break Weaver's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Weaver is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cruz dives into side control.

Cruz decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Weaver tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cruz is able to avoid easily.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.

Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Weaver gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weaver keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Weaver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Weaver shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cruz sprawls well. Cruz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weaver gets slowly back to his feet.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses.
Weaver connects with a looping right hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.
Cruz working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weaver holding on.
Cruz working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weaver is being controlled here.
Cruz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Weaver tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Cruz struggling to keep hold of the position.

Cruz is persistently looking for the submission but Weaver is defending it well.
Cruz is trying to control but Weaver is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Weaver bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Weaver passes into half guard.
Weaver passes into side control, despite Cruz's attempt to control the position.
Cruz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cruz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Cruz regains half guard.
Weaver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Weaver is controlling him well.
Weaver drops an elbow to the side of Cruz's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Weaver is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cruz pushes Weaver off looking to stand but Weaver dives back in and keeps control.
Cruz is looking to improve his position.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Cruz is looking to control Weaver's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Weaver working over Cruz with some ground and pound. Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weaver seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Weaver dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Weaver quickly recovers to half guard.
Weaver tries to kick Cruz off but Cruz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Weaver is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Weaver avoid being mounted?
Weaver is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Weaver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Weaver defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weaver trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cruz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Weaver tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cruz is in Weaver's guard.
Weaver pulls Cruz in close to prevent any damage.
Weaver wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weaver wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Weaver keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Weaver is on top in guard.

Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weaver working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Weaver lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cruz wants to control the position but Weaver says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Weaver winds up and cracks Cruz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cruz is looking to control Weaver's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cruz avoid being mounted?
Cruz trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruz regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Weaver prevents Cruz from improving his position.
Cruz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weaver lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barry Weaver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weaver throwing shots but Cruz is blocking nicely.
Weaver takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Weaver showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Weaver has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Weaver!