PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erik Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zero
vs
Cruz

180 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erik Zero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andre Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cruz lands in his opponent's guard.
Cruz trying to control but Zero is working from the bottom.
Zero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cruz is one step ahead there.
Zero is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cruz slips nicely into half guard.

Cruz decides to return to a standing position.
Cruz slaps away a takedown attempt from Zero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruz stuffs the takedown.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

Zero manages to pull guard.
Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Zero is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cruz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zero looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cruz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cruz tries to pass to full mount but Zero defends it.
Cruz controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Cruz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Zero is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Zero shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Zero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zero looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zero shoots in but no luck this time.
Zero shoots in but no luck this time.
Zero is breathing heavily.

Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zero doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruz.
Cruz controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Cruz dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Zero is trying to drag Cruz to the mat but Cruz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zero is trying to maintain a safe position but Cruz gets an underhook and turns Zero into the cage.

Cruz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zero is trying to keep an underhook but Cruz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Zero is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Zero dodges it nicely.
Zero wants to sweep but Cruz has passed to side control!

Cruz stands up and beckons Zero to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zero defends well and Cruz ends up having to push Zero into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Zero gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Zero has his foot on Cruz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruz works his way back into a safe position though.

Cruz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zero is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Zero circles away and we're back to standing.
Zero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
Zero throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Zero shoots in.
Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Zero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cruz holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Zero avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Zero has wrist control.
Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Zero.
Zero sets himself, and Cruz steps forward looking for the clinch! Zero avoids it this time.

Cruz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zero!
Cruz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cruz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Cruz darts in and clinches Zero up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cruz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cruz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zero gets back to half guard.
Cruz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zero blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz is thwarting Zero's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Cruz seems content to control.

Zero manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zero or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zero to the ground. Cruz is now in Zero's guard.
Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Cruz. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cruz trying to control but Zero is working from the bottom.
Cruz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands up from Zero's guard - Cruz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Zero appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zero tries to clinch up

and Cruz counters with a shoot takedown. Zero fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruz stands and steps away. Zero gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zero, pushing him back against the cage.
Zero looking to slow down the pace here.
Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zero wants to break free but Cruz has control.
Cruz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zero or not.
Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Zero's takedown attempt.
Cruz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zero avoids it.
Cruz tries a knee to the head but Zero blocks it.

Cruz decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz pulls Zero in close to prevent any damage.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Zero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zero is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cruz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Andre Cruz!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Andre Cruz!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Andre Cruz!

Andre Cruz wins by unanimous decision!