PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shane Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonid Vasilevsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonid Vasilevsky told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cross
vs
Vasilevsky

185 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shane Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leonid Vasilevsky!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cross wants the takedown. Vasilevsky is fighting it off but Cross persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vasilevsky's guard against the cage.
Vasilevsky lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cross!
Vasilevsky takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cross really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cross is working hard here to advance position.
Vasilevsky sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vasilevsky's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cross is looking to improve his position but Vasilevsky isn't that keen on the idea.
Vasilevsky controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Let's hope that Vasilevsky 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.
Vasilevsky moves to take his opponent's back.
Vasilevsky keeps control of the position easily here as Cross tries to buck him off.
Vasilevsky controlling well, preventing Cross from escaping the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Vasilevsky controlling the positon.
I looks like Vasilevsky might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leonid Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cross.
Cross shoots in and drives through. Vasilevsky sprawls well.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Vasilevsky darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Vasilevsky stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leonid Vasilevsky hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Vasilevsky shoots and misses

so Cross counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vasilevsky bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cross's guard.
Vasilevsky is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Cross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vasilevsky defends well.
Vasilevsky showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to stand up but Vasilevsky is controlling him.
Vasilevsky showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leonid Vasilevsky was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vasilevsky misses with a takedown
and Cross counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Vasilevsky decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cross missing with punches from the bottom.
Cross flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vasilevsky wants to work for an arm triangle but Cross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cross looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Vasilevsky dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vasilevsky scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Vasilevsky is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cross won't allow Vasilevsky to pass to mount.
Cross is trying to get back to full guard.
Vasilevsky controlling the action here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Vasilevsky works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross has given up his back.
Cross is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Vasilevsky is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Vasilevsky is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cross is defending well though. Vasilevsky let's go of the attempt for now.
Cross tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky is riding his opponent, not letting Cross buck him off.
Cross rolls, trying to escape but Vasilevsky keeps control of the position.
Vasilevsky controlling the position well here. Cross rolled but Vasilevsky kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Cross really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leonid Vasilevsky was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vasilevsky gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cross counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vasilevsky!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasilevsky tries to hold on but Cross pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky is trying to escape the mount.
Vasilevsky regains half guard.
Vasilevsky makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cross manages to get himself to full guard.
Vasilevsky stays in close to Cross's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to keep a closed guard but Vasilevsky is proving a slippery customer.
Leonid Vasilevsky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vasilevsky not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leonid Vasilevsky was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Vasilevsky is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cross's half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasilevsky blocks the strikes from Cross.
Vasilevsky moves nicely into side control.
Vasilevsky moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Vasilevsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vasilevsky throws a lazy head kick

and Cross counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cross.
Vasilevsky 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasilevsky has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vasilevsky keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Vasilevsky seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasilevsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shane Cross.
Vasilevsky changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cross tries to avoid it but Vasilevsky manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cross to the ground. Cross escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vasilevsky enables Cross to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vasilevsky manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Vasilevsky controlling Cross's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wanted to stand there but Vasilevsky had control of the position.
Vasilevsky keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vasilevsky with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cross counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vasilevsky's guard now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasilevsky is on top in guard.
Vasilevsky controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasilevsky won't allow Cross to get back to his feet.
Cross looking to control.
Vasilevsky controls from within his opponent's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vasilevsky fails with the takedown.
Shane Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonid Vasilevsky.
Cross is looking to clinch but Vasilevsky is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross throws a series of punches but Vasilevsky moves out of range.

Vasilevsky darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Vasilevsky is trying to work for a kimura but Cross is defending well.
Cross wants to control but Vasilevsky is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vasilevsky passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cross!
Vasilevsky forces the positional change into back control.
Cross is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vasilevsky has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonid Vasilevsky!