PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Philip Cross (ranked 25115 p4p, 6368 weight class) and Arcadius Custard (ranked 685 p4p, 647 weight class). Custard has chosen Kalax - Shibuya Lights as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cross
vs
Custard

180 cm
18
205
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
18
210
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Philip Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arcadius Custard!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Custard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cross pinned against the cage. Cross gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cross misses with a series of wild punches.
Custard shoots in but no luck this time.
Custard tries to clinch up.
Custard looks for a takedown but Cross sprawls well.
Philip Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arcadius Custard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross looks to score with a jab to the body but Custard is just out of range.
Custard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Custard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cross as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Custard lunges at Cross with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cross's hand.
Cross slaps away a takedown attempt from Custard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Custard fails with a takedown attempt.
Custard wants to clinch up but Cross keeps it at a distance.
Custard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Custard misses with a head kick.
Cross appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Cross moves into the clinch.

Cross breaks the clinch.
Cross blocks a head kick by Custard.

Cross moves into range and clinches up with Custard.

Cross breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross connects with a high kick.
Cross shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Custard defends it nicely.
Custard is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cross has been working on his balance at Cozad The Island, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Custard.

Custard moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cross working hard to break the clinch.
Cross tries to land knees in the clinch but Custard avoids the damage to the body.
Custard is struggling to control the position.
Custard swings wildly with an uppercut but Cross uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Custard breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Cross.
Cross scores with a push kick.
Cross displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Custard.
Cross seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Custard shoots in but Cross avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Custard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cross swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Custard takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cross misses with a series of wild punches.
Custard tries to close the distance and clinch but Cross swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Custard avoids the body shot from Cross.
Cross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Custard.
Cross fails with the takedown.
Custard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Custard throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Cross is looking to counter the offense by Custard and move into the clinch.
Custard looks winded!
A head kick from Cross lands but Custard takes it in his stride.

Cross darts in and clinches Custard up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Cross dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cross moves into the clinch.
Custard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.
Cross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Custard's efforts to push away.

Custard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross misses with a takedown
and Custard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cross thinking.
Custard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custard throws a front kick aimed at Cross's knee but Cross avoids it well.
Custard throws a series of punches but Cross moves out of range.
Arcadius Custard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Custard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Cross successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cross kicks Custard off and gets to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Custard. Cross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Custard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Custard has managed to clinch.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Custard can do to turn this around?
Custard tries to pull guard but Cross forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Custard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cross avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Custard tries to clinch up.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Custard as he jumps to the side.
Custard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.
Cross shoots in for a double leg but Custard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Philip Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Custard shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense.
Custard tries for a takedown but Cross circles away easily
and Cross counters with a big head kick but Custard shrugs it off.
Custard is breathing heavily.

Custard gets tackled into the cage by Cross. Cross maintains the clinch.
Custard avoids a wild elbow strike from Cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to push Custard away but Custard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Custard blocks a head kick by Cross.
Cross wants to clinch up but Custard keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Custard is defended easily by Cross.
As Custard tries to get set, Cross tries to push him back and clinch up but Custard manages to avoid the attempt.
Custard misses with a takedown

and Cross moves into the clinch.
Custard throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Custard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross tries a head kick but it misses.
Cross misses with a takedown
and Custard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cross thinking.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Custard circles away.
Cross keeps the fight on the outside.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Custard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Custard tries to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Custard looks for the body kick but Cross saw that one coming.
Cross is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Custard.
Philip Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Cross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Custard shoots in looking for a takedown but Cross manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Custard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Custard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cross changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cross looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Custard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cross, pushing him back against the cage.
Custard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Custard is looking to take this one to the mat.
Philip Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arcadius Custard.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Custard looks to move away, Cross throws a big counter combo but Custard just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Cross.
Philip Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Custard doesn't manage to clinch there - Cross circles away.

Cross moves into the clinch.
Custard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Philip Cross has been cut.
Custard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cross is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Custard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cross manages to pull guard.
Custard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cross has Custard pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Custard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cross trying to keep a closed guard but Custard is proving a slippery customer.
Custard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Custard with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cross is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cross throws a head kick but Custard moves out of range.
Custard shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custard misses with a takedown attempt

and Cross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cross. Custard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cross leaves Custard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cross appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Custard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Custard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cross, pushing him back against the cage.
Cross is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cross with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Custard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cross to keep the fight standing.
Cross is pressed up against the cage. Custard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cross down to the mat. Cross avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Custard but Custard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Custard misses with a head kick.
Custard doesn't manage to clinch there - Cross circles away.
Cross drops down looking for a counter takedown but Custard sprawls and moves away.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Custard pushes him off.
Nice sprawl there from Cross as Custard shoots in.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cross keeps the fight on the outside.
Cross seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Arcadius Custard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Philip Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cross throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cross has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philip Cross!
Arcadius Custard was interviewed post fight and said 'Big thanks for my family, friends and fans for all the support they give me. Respect for my opponent for the good fight. See you all soon!'.