PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clyde Gerke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerke has chosen Krs one - Step into a world as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jason Cross has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cross
vs
Gerke

175 cm
26
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Vitality
Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Clyde Gerke!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross shoots in and drives through. Gerke sprawls well.

Cross scores a takedown into full mount!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cross can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gerke is looking to escape.

Cross gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A cross from Gerke lands.
Jason Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross throws a sloppy head kick and Gerke moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gerke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Cross.
A right-left combo lands from Gerke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gerke wants to clinch.
Gerke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Gerke has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gerke dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Cross manages to pull guard.

Cross uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gerke is looking to clinch.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gerke as he avoids it easily.
Gerke moves to clinch but Cross breaks away

and Cross counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gerke wriggles free and stands up.

Cross closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gerke regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cross trying to control but Gerke is having none of it.
Cross blocks Gerke's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
You get the feeling that Gerke really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Cross avoids the attempt from Gerke to control.
Cross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gerke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gerke is just holding on here. Cross manages to take his back.
Cross not allowing Gerke to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerke is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cross scores with punches to the body.
Cross controls the action.
Gerke tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gerke tries to improve his position but instead Cross has taken his back!

Cross has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gerke has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cross looking to break Gerke's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gerke remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cross will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gerke manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cross's guard. Nice work there by Gerke.
Gerke works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Gerke looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gerke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cross does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason Cross will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gerke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross shoots in and drives through. Gerke sprawls well.
Cross circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gerke tries to close the distance and clinch but Cross swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gerke closes the distance and pushes Cross back into the cage.
Gerke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gerke tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.
Gerke lands with a right to the head.
Cross lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gerke backwards.
Gerke missing with knees to the body.
Cross tries to score a body lock takedown but Gerke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gerke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.
Gerke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.
Gerke tries to pull guard but Cross forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gerke is trying to pull guard but Cross turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jason Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clyde Gerke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerke tries to break free but Cross pushes him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Cross.
Gerke jumps guard but Cross turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Cross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gerke instigates a clinch.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gerke tries to land knees in the clinch but Cross avoids the damage to the body.
Gerke wants to take the fight to the mat but Cross manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gerke is breathing heavily.

Cross breaks the clinch.
Cross fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross shoots for a double leg takedown but Gerke sprawls well. He's pushed Cross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cross shoots in and drives through. Gerke sprawls well.
Gerke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gerke stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gerke scores with a knee to the head.
Gerke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cross smiles and moves away.
A head kick misses from Gerke.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gerke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gerke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cross swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cross is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gerke moves into the clinch.

Cross gets control of Gerke's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cross will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Cross is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gerke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cross works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gerke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cross is working an open guard so Gerke takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gerke shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense.
Good leg kick by Gerke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gerke closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cross makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gerke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerke tries to clinch there but Cross circles away.
Gerke scores with a punch to the head.
Gerke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gerke swivels and escapes.
Gerke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerke slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gerke moves into the clinch.

Gerke manages to break the clinch.
Gerke lands a leg kick that knocks Cross off balance momentarily.
Cross throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clyde Gerke 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!

Gerke dodges the punch combination from Cross.

Gerke gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gerke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cross walks away with a smile on his face. Gerke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cross.
Gerke tries to clinch up.
Gerke wants to clinch up but Cross keeps it at a distance.
Jason Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Gerke as Cross shoots in.
Gerke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gerke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cross is able to avoid easily.
Gerke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gerke wants to clinch but Cross slips to the side
and Cross counters with a leg kick.

Gerke forces Cross back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gerke jumps guard.

Gerke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cross gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gerke is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.

Cross drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gerke looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gerke looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gerke!

Gerke stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cross misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gerke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cross shoots for a takedown but Gerke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerke slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gerke wants to clinch.
Gerke lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gerke is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Cross swats away the attempt to clinch by Gerke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross fails with a takedown attempt.
Gerke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerke is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Gerke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gerke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gerke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cross's sensitive parts.
Gerke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gerke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cross misses with a takedown attempt - Gerke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gerke moves into the clinch.
Gerke misses with an elbow strike.
Clyde Gerke seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Gerke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cross there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cross misses with a takedown

and Gerke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cross's guard.
Gerke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gerke trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Jason Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross has a closed guard, preventing Gerke from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Clyde Gerke wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gerke shoots in but no luck this time.
Gerke doesn't manage to clinch there - Cross circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clyde Gerke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gerke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clyde Gerke!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Clyde Gerke made sure he mentioned Vitality, along with how happy he was to win his fight.