PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donald Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sopre Nyedeme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cross might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Exhibit C. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cross
vs
Nyedeme

173 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

167 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donald Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sopre Nyedeme!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nyedeme shoots for a takedown but Cross saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense.
Cross fails to land with a series of punches.
Cross throws a series of strikes that have Nyedeme backpedaling.
Cross plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nyedeme moves in looking to clinch but Cross pushes him off.
Cross lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cross will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nyedeme throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cross tries to bum rush Nyedeme with a series of wild strikes but Nyedeme uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cross scores with a shot to the body.
Nyedeme misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cross.
Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cross but Cross pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Donald Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sopre Nyedeme.
Cross throws a series of punches but Nyedeme moves out of range.
Cross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cross wants it to stay on the feet.

Nyedeme fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cross sprawls well initially but Nyedeme persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cross kicks off Nyedeme and gets to his feet.
Cross misses with a double jab.

Nyedeme scores with a takedown into Cross's guard.
Cross wants to get back to his feet but Nyedeme is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nyedeme is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cross is looking to stand up but Nyedeme isn't so interested in that idea.
Cross is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyedeme works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nyedeme is pressing down on Cross's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cross is holding on for now.
Cross looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nyedeme perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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!
Nyedeme lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Nyedeme stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nyedeme tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cross swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nyedeme has a takedown stuffed.
Donald Cross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nyedeme closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cross circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross misses with the combination.
Nyedeme fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nyedeme will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cross moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cross as he jumps to the side.
Donald Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cross misses with a wild combination.
Cross avoids a kick to the body.
Nyedeme on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Nyedeme shoots in and gets a takedown into Cross's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nyedeme postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cross is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Nyedeme is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nyedeme stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cross is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nyedeme is controlling him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nyedeme is stalling in the full guard.
Cross wants to stand but Nyedeme is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sopre Nyedeme will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nyedeme gets a double leg takedown into Cross's guard.
Nyedeme stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nyedeme is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cross is looking to stand up but Nyedeme isn't so interested in that idea.
Cross is looking to stand back up but Nyedeme counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cross.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nyedeme prevents Cross from standing back up.
Cross on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nyedeme looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nyedeme scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nyedeme stands up out of the half guard.
Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cross sprawls well. Cross wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nyedeme gets slowly back to his feet.
Nyedeme looks to land a body kick but Cross moved away.
Cross lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nyedeme will feel that in the morning.
Cross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cross lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cross closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cross throws a series of punches but Nyedeme moves out of range.
Cross throws a right hand that Nyedeme ducks under and follows up with a left that Nyedeme also avoids with ease.

Nyedeme shoots in and gets a takedown into Cross's guard.
Nyedeme passes Cross's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nyedeme decides to stand up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Cross as Nyedeme shoots in.
Nyedeme fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross misses with a wild combination.

Nyedeme is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cross's half guard.
Nyedeme is controlling the pace.

Nyedeme wants to work for an arm triangle but Cross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nyedeme works his way into side control.
Cross is pushing Nyedeme's head away, looking to escape. Nyedeme manages to hold on to the position though.
Cross is letting Nyedeme control him for a moment.
Nyedeme scoring with punches and elbows.
The referee asks Nyedeme politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nyedeme prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cross is pushing Nyedeme's head away, looking to escape. Nyedeme manages to hold on to the position though.

Nyedeme stands up and beckons Cross to his feet.
A punch combination from Cross misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross misses with a wild combination.
Cross throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Cross. Those never looked like landing.
Nyedeme moves in looking to clinch but Cross pushes him off.
Nyedeme shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.
Donald Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sopre Nyedeme.
Cross throws a push kick but Nyedeme slaps the foot to one side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Cross misses.

Nyedeme fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cross to the ground. Nyedeme is now in Cross's guard.
Cross can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nyedeme controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nyedeme's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nyedeme is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sopre Nyedeme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cross misses with a few strikes there.
Cross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cross wants it to stay on the feet.
Cross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nyedeme fails with a takedown attempt.
Nyedeme closes the distance and clinches up with Cross, looking for a takedown. Nyedeme pushes Cross against the cage but Cross circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Donald Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sopre Nyedeme.
Cross fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nyedeme looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nyedeme showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cross.
Nyedeme fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cross lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cross misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cross throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nyedeme.
Cross misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross looks to land a combination but Nyedeme avoids it well.
Donald Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Nyedeme dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Nyedeme shoots in but no luck this time.
Cross throws a series of punches but Nyedeme avoids them all with ease.
Nyedeme misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nyedeme tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cross uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nyedeme.
Nyedeme tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cross sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nyedeme somewhat.
Nyedeme throws a series of punches but Cross avoids them all with ease.
Nyedeme throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nyedeme fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyedeme takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nyedeme tries to clinch but Cross is having none of it.
Nyedeme fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross takes a swing at Nyedeme's ribcage but misses.
Cross misses with a two punch combination.
Cross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cross keeps the fight on the outside.
Cross rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nyedeme moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nyedeme has a takedown stuffed.
Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nyedeme throws a head kick that misses.
Nyedeme lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Donald Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyedeme slips a jab and a cross from Cross.
Cross throws a series of punches but Nyedeme moves out of range.
Cross will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nyedeme tries to clinch but Cross moves out of range.
Nyedeme tries a head kick but it misses.
Nyedeme tries to close the distance and clinch but Cross swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cross throws a combination. Nyedeme tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nyedeme tries to clinch up but Cross circles away and keeps his distance.
Nyedeme shoots in looking for a takedown but Cross manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nyedeme's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nyedeme misses with a head kick.
Cross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nyedeme.
Cross misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cross's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cross duly obliges.
Nyedeme shoots in but Cross avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nyedeme throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
Cross throws a nice looking combination but Nyedeme bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nyedeme tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nyedeme shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nyedeme was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cross is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nyedeme controlling his opponent.

Nyedeme working for a submission but Cross is keeping him at bay.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sopre Nyedeme.
I've got Nyedeme winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sopre Nyedeme!