PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Patricio Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dani Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dani Cruz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Freire
vs
Cruz

166 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
23
144 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Gilop®

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Patricio Freire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dani Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Freire closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cruz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cruz can't get the takedown.
Freire stops a takedown attempt from Cruz.

Cruz breaks the clinch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Patricio Freire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dani Cruz.
Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.

Cruz rushes Freire and presses him up against the cage.
Freire tries to pull guard but Cruz won't allow it.
Cruz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Freire pulls guard successfully.
Freire throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Freire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freire might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Freire controlling Cruz's posture.
Cruz looking to sit in guard and control but Freire gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Freire in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Freire engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Freire fails with the takedown
and Cruz counters with a series of strikes. Freire will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cruz looks gassed!
Freire darts in trying to clinch
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Freire.
Freire fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Freire with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Freire is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Cruz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Freire is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Cruz blocks the leg kick.

Freire throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cruz was covering up waiting for the punch and Freire finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Freire is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Freire wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.
Freire wants to control from the top but Cruz keeps moving.

Freire gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freire shoots in for a double leg but Cruz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Freire swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Freire fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Freire feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cruzs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cruz takes one to the side of the head.
Freire doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cruz counters by clinching up.

Freire gets control of Cruz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Freire will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Freire kicks Cruz off and gets to his feet.
Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Freire.
Freire shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patricio Freire dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Freire throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Freire defends it nicely.
Freire misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freire shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.

Cruz moves into the clinch.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cruz is breathing heavily.
Freire tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patricio Freire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Freire gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Freire struggles to land a body shot inside as Cruz controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Freire drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.

Freire manages to pull guard.

Cruz is sitting in close to Freire's body. Freire has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Cruz is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Cruz is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Freire.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Patricio Freire!