PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Cross (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.

Michaels
vs
Cross

185 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

223 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Cross!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Michaels swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Michaels wants to clinch.
Cross checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cross avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Michaels connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Joe Cross has been cut.
Michaels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cross pinned against the cage. Cross gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but Cross defending well.
Cross is not content to let Michaels control the position.
Cross trying to control here.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Cross is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels trying to control from Cross's half guard. Cross has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.
Michaels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Michaels wants to clinch but Cross slips to the side
and Cross counters with a head kick.
Michaels fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Michaels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cross's guard.
Michaels has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Michaels is breathing heavily.
Michaels works over Cross with some ground and pound from guard.
Cross trying to strike off his back.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Michaels defends easily.
Michaels working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cross is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels lands a couple of digs.
Michaels connects with a couple of short punches.
Michaels won't allow Cross to sweep him here.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Cross has wrist control.
Michaels landing some decent shots from guard.
Michaels postures up and lands a big shot to Cross's brow.
Michaels working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Michaels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Michaels chips away with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michaels advances position into side control!
Cross tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Michaels easily slips into full mount!
Cross tries to hold on but Michaels postures up.
Cross is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cross has worked his arm free - good work by Cross!
Cross wants to control but Michaels postures up.
Cross taking punishment in the form of punches.
Check out the look on Michaels's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Cross is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Michaels off and has taken his back!
Michaels looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Cross is trying to stick to Michaels's back but Michaels is turning into Cross. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cross's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Michaels.
Michaels looking to pass the guard.
Michaels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Michaels with a flurry of punches that miss.
Michaels postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels chips away with some ground and pound.
Michaels lands a couple of digs.
Cross looking to control.
Michaels trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.

Cross is working an open guard so Michaels takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cross tries to clinch but Michaels moves out of range.

Michaels bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels working away.
Michaels lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cross tries to buck Michaels off but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels looks up at the clock and then as Cross takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Michaels smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Michaels in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Cross on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cross to see if he's OK.
Michaels lands a nice forearm strike.
Cross is trying to control Michaels's posture but Michaels avoids it.
Michaels scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Cross's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Michaels stuffs the takedown.
Cross wants to clinch.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Michaels was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Michaels landing strikes from the mount.
Michaels has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cross's face.
Michaels wants to control the pace but Cross is squirming around nicely.
Cross is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Michaels could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cross is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Jack Michaels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cross gets back to half guard.
Cross trying to control here.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cross keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michaels.
Michaels scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Michaels uses his free foot to push down on Cross's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cross.
Michaels avoids the attempt from Cross to control.
Michaels lands a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels landing shots from mount.
Michaels putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Michaels dominating with strikes here.
Michaels landing strikes, looking to finish!
Michaels working Cross over with strikes here.
Michaels with a couple of short strikes.
Cross is bucking up trying to escape but Michaels cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross is trying desperately to improve position.
Michaels landing strikes, looking to finish!
Michaels with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels with a couple of short strikes.
Michaels raining down shots from the mount!
Michaels lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Michaels landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cross wants to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
Michaels with the ground and pound from mount.
Michaels lands a heavy elbow.
Michaels has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cross's face.
Cross is in a horrible position here. Michaels smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cross holds on for dear life, controlling Michaels's posture momentarily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Michaels cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cross tries to lock up and control but Michaels gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cross manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Michaels is looking to take a break and control but Cross is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross has hold of Michaels's hands but Michaels slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Michaels wants to free his trapped foot but Cross is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cross manages to get to full guard.
Michaels advances position into side control!
Michaels is putting a hurting on Cross here, landing some big shots from side control.
Michaels cracks Cross with a big right hand but Cross just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cross holding on.
Michaels landing a few strikes.
Michaels looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cross is avoiding damage well.
Michaels tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cross's legs.
Cross regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels stops Cross from getting back to his feet.
Michaels seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Michaels working over Cross with some ground and pound. Cross looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Michaels frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Michaels has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cross's face.
The referee warns Cross that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Michaels lands a big shot there that rocks Cross but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cross wants to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cross takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cross is bucking up trying to escape but Michaels cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cross in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Michaels working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Michaels dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Cross's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Michaels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Michaels drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cross gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cross tries for a takedown but Michaels manages to get underhooks.
Michaels stalls.

Michaels breaks the clinch.

Michaels closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Michaels in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cross on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Michaels in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cross keeps working.
Cross takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Michaels works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Michaels scoring with punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Cross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross manages to work his way to half guard, despite Michaels's best efforts.
Michaels tries to pass to full mount but Cross defends it.
Cross taking some punishment here, with Michaels in his half guard.
Cross trying to control but Michaels postures up.
Michaels working over Cross with some ground and pound. Cross looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels is thwarting Cross's attempts to control the position.
Cross is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Michaels is staying active.

Michaels seems to be working for a kimura but Cross defends the submission attempt.
Cross keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nice strikes from Michaels there.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Michaels missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Michaels drops an elbow to the side of Cross's head.
Michaels looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Michaels scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Cross is having none of it.
Michaels looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cross with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Michaels content to control rather than advance.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Michaels slips a nice elbow through Cross's hands, connecting with Cross's forehead.
Cross is staying active underneath Michaels, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but Cross defending well.
Michaels with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to kick Michaels off but Michaels keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Cross is having none of it.
Cross wants to control but Michaels is keeping busy.
Cross is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cross.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cross throws a sloppy head kick and Michaels moves out of range easily.
Michaels is looking to clinch.
Michaels throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The is referee keeping an eye on Michaels - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cross tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Michaels just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jack Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Cross.
Cross is pressed up against the cage. Michaels 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Michaels tries to clinch

and Cross counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cross.

Michaels has hold of one of Cross's legs. Cross is fighting the takedown attempt but Michaels gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Michaels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cross is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Michaels postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Michaels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Michaels makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Cross had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Michaels is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cross Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Michaels's back instead.
Michaels breaks Cross's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cross is trying to control the position but Michaels postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels works over Cross with some ground and pound from guard.
Joe Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cross not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Michaels, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Michaels!