PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dani Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altair Leite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Cruz
vs
Leite

197 cm
22
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dani Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Altair Leite!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Leite was covering up waiting for the punch and Cruz finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Leite wants to stand and escape but Cruz is having none of it.
Cruz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leite tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leite pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Leite manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
You get the feeling that Cruz really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Cruz tries to lock up and control but Leite gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to escape the mount.
Leite trying to control but Cruz is having none of it.
Leite raining down shots from the mount!
Leite punching from mount but Cruz doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Leite has a good base and remains in mount.
Leite with good strikes from the mount here!
Cruz tries to hold on but Leite pushes him away.

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 is desperately trying to improve his position but Leite has a good base and remains in mount.
BOOM! Leite connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cruz is desperately trying to improve his position but Leite has a good base and remains in mount.
Cruz manages to control the position for a moment.
Cruz wants to hold on but Leite pushes him away.
Leite tries to control but Cruz wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cruz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Leite is trying to keep Cruz in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Leite closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cruz quickly recovers to half guard.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Leite trying to control from half guard but Cruz is working away.

Leite stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cruz to get to his feet.
Leite stalks Cruz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cruz's face. Cruz staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leite shoots and misses

and Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz content to stall in guard here.
Leite wants to control the position but Cruz says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Leite is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cruz's back!
Leite really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Cruz.
Cruz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Altair Leite will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Leite counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Leite is very close to passing his half guard.
Leite wants to pass the guard but Cruz is defending well.
Leite trying to control from Cruz's half guard. Cruz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Cruz has an active guard here but Leite has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leite is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leite seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Altair Leite has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cruz is staying active underneath Leite, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Leite tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cruz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cruz throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
Leite controlling the action here.
Cruz is in trouble now - Leite has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leite prevents Cruz from getting the reversal.
Leite trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Leite looking to isolate an arm here. Cruz doesn't see it coming and as Leite extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Leite!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Altair Leite!