PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Salvince (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cross
vs
Salvince

175 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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, Jason Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Salvince!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salvince tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cross swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cross clinches.

Cross manages to break the clinch.

Cross moves into the clinch successfully.

Cross successfully pulls guard.

Cross has his foot on Salvince's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salvince works his way back into a safe position though.
Cross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Cross had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salvince defends it easily.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Salvince postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Salvince looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cross throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Salvince escapes and throws Cross's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cross is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salvince goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cross rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Salvince's guard! Nice work there by Cross!
Salvince is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cross is controlling him.

Salvince is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salvince is keeping the position for now.
Salvince trying to keep a closed guard but Cross is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cross stands up and waves to Salvince to follow him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cross.
Salvince misses with a kick to the body.
Salvince slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cross forces Salvince back against the cage and clinches.
Cross is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Salvince to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salvince tries to pull guard but Cross forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Salvince letting Cross take a breather here.
Salvince tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salvince is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Cross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salvince.
Salvince looks gassed!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cross is defended easily by Salvince.

Salvince dives in and scores a takedown into Cross's guard.

Cross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salvince defends well.

Cross is looking for a triangle but Salvince pushes his legs off easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cross holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Salvince wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.
Salvince being controlled here momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cross is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Cross dominated that round.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salvince circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salvince tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salvince tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cross sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salvince somewhat.
Cross takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown. Salvince tries to sprawl out of it but Cross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salvince manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Salvince changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cross tries to avoid it but Salvince manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cross to the ground. Cross escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cross scores with a takedown into Salvince's guard.

Cross drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cross jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wants to control from the top but Salvince keeps moving.
Cross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Salvince is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jason Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cross stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salvince swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cross sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Cross postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Salvince is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cross, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross pulls Salvince in close to his closed guard and prevents Salvince from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cross trying to strike off his back.

Cross has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Salvince off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Salvince is breathing heavily.
Cross changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Salvince tries to avoid it but Cross manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Salvince to the ground. Salvince escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cross.
Cross slaps away a takedown attempt from Salvince, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvince shoots in for a double leg but Cross sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salvince but Salvince pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cross gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Salvince gets underhooks to prevent Cross's takedown attempt.
Salvince prevents a takedown attempt there.
Salvince tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.
Cross prevents Salvince from breaking the clinch.
Salvince is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cross prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cross pulls guard effortlessly.

Cross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Salvince defends well.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Salvince defends easily.
Cross throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salvince wants to get up but he can't break Cross's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Cross dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cross darts in and clinches Salvince up against the cage.

Cross has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Salvince uses from the top position.
Salvince scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cross pushes Salvince off and gets back to his feet.
Cross fails with a takedown attempt.

Salvince scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Salvince is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cross has managed to free his arm - good work.
Salvince takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cross is trying is best to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross trying to control but Salvince postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jason Cross wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Salvince will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown by Cross or perhaps it was just good defense by Salvince which made him look bad.

Salvince gets tackled into the cage by Cross. Cross maintains the clinch.
Cross jumps guard but Salvince stands there with Cross around his waist. Cross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salvince is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Salvince gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cross tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cross drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Salvince gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Salvince tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.
Cross fails to pull guard.
Salvince prevents the takedown attempt.
Cross jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salvince walks away with a smile on his face. Cross gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salvince tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross stuffs the takedown attempt from Salvince. Salvince gets slowly back to his feet.
Salvince shoots in for a double leg but Cross sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cross shoots in but no luck this time.

Cross forces Salvince back against the cage and clinches.
Cross tries to score a body lock takedown but Salvince shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Cross pulls guard successfully.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Salvince defends easily.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salvince postures up.
Jason Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salvince must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Salvince tries to stand but Cross is controlling from the bottom.

Cross is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Salvince wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
Matt Salvince has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cross is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Salvince is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Cross!
Jason Cross decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.