PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tone Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dammahom Malsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dammahom Malsi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cross
vs
Malsi

195 cm
23
288 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
300 lbs
1 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tone Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dammahom Malsi!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross shoots in and drives through. Malsi sprawls well.
Tone Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross shoots in and drives through. Malsi sprawls well.
Cross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Malsi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malsi swinging wilding here.
Cross shoots for a double leg takedown but Malsi sprawls well. He's pushed Cross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tone Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malsi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malsi throws a right and a left that Cross avoids nicely.
Malsi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cross counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Malsi's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross prevents Malsi from getting back to his feet.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
Malsi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cross drops back looking for a leg! Malsi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Malsi manages to kick Cross off! Cross jumps back into Malsi's guard.
Cross passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Malsi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Malsi is pushing Cross's head away, looking to escape. Cross manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cross fails to land the takedown.

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.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cross feints and as Malsi raises his hands in defense, Cross changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Malsi is looking to stand up but Cross isn't so interested in that idea.
Malsi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cross controls the pace.
Cross is looking to work some ground and pound but Malsi has wrist control.
Malsi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cross is controlling him.
Malsi looks gassed!
Cross passes into half guard.
Cross lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to control from half guard but Malsi is working away.
Cross throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cross is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Malsi is just riding it out for now. Cross eventually gives up the hold.
Malsi pushes Cross off looking to stand but Cross dives back in and keeps control.
Cross working over Malsi with some ground and pound. Malsi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Cross seems to be looking for submissions.
Nice strikes from Cross there.
Malsi taking some punishment here, with Cross in his half guard.
Cross is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands with a punch from half guard.
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Malsi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Cross is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross passes to full mount!
Cross with good strikes from the mount here!

Cross swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tone Cross!