PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tone Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cross
vs
Burns

195 cm
35
288 lbs
20 - 18 - 0

190 cm
28
270 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tone Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Burns!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Burns tries to land a leg kick but Cross saw it coming and moves away.
Cross with a jab.

It looks like Carl Burns has been cut.
Cross tries a head kick but it misses.
Cross lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross checks a leg kick nicely.
Tone Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cross tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cross throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burns's waist but Burns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cross off to one side.
Burns buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Burns pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cross takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A nice inside leg kick there by Burns. That's going to slow Cross down.
Burns misses with a head kick.
Cross moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Burns with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Burns connects with a solid leg kick.

Burns throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cross was covering up waiting for the punch and Burns finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Cross has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burns can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cross is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Cross being controlled here, momentarily.
Cross keeping full guard, as Burns tries to pass.
Burns postures up.
Burns is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cross controls Burns momentarily but Burns frees himself.

Cross has his foot on Burns's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burns works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
Burns stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burns wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.
Burns lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burns with a nice head shot there.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burns defends well.
Burns content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cross trying to control the position.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns is stalling in the full guard.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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.
Burns gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burns tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cross has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Burns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cross avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cross drops back looking for a leg! Burns is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Burns manages to kick Cross off! Cross jumps back into Burns's guard.
Burns keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross throws a strike but Burns rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burns stopping the sweep attempt from Cross.

Cross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burns defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carl Burns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carl Burns'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.

Burns lands a lovely overhand right.
Burns finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cross tries a head kick but it misses.
Cross is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burns sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burns tries a head kick but it misses.
Burns takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cross throws a right and a left that Burns avoids nicely.
Burns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jab, jab by Burns - just one landing.
Carl Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burns lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cross's sensitive parts.
Tone Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Cross. No joy for Burns on that attempt.
Cross misses with a left hand

and Burns counters with a takedown into side control.
Burns lands some shots froms side control.
Burns just content to control the position.
Cross is trying to control Burns's posture but Burns avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burns working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross taking a bit of punishment here - Burns scoring with strikes.
Cross is trying to get back to half guard.

Burns tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burns has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cross regains half guard.
Burns looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Burns trying to control the action but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Burns's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Burns's back!
Burns turns into Cross and is now in his guard.
Burns has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burns is one step ahead there.
Burns trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cross is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Burns is aware though and is defending well.
Carl Burns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Burns pushes down on Cross's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Burns is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cross sees it coming and defends easily.
Burns passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cross regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is looking for a sweep. Burns is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burns 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.
Cross tries to get to full guard but Burns has control of the leg.
Cross trying to hold on to Burns's head to control him but Burns postures up.
Burns controlling the action here.
Burns scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Burns working over Cross with some ground and pound. Cross looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Burns lands with a punch from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross gets back to full guard.
Cross can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burns controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Cross escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Burns gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Burns postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cross keeping full guard, as Burns tries to pass.

Cross looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Burns is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Cross throws his legs up looking for a submission but Burns uses it to pass to side control.
Burns working the ground and pound from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross tries to improve position but can't.
Cross is trying to escape the position but Burns is controlling the position.

Burns tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Burns has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cross takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carl Burns's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cross fails to land the takedown.
Cross with a nice cross.
Cross tries to bum rush Burns with a series of wild strikes but Burns uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cross throws out a loose jab but Burns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cross chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burns can pounce on him.

Burns feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Burns controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Burns postures up and lands a big shot to Cross's brow.

Cross throws his legs up looking for a submission but Burns uses it to pass to side control.
Burns is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cross's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Burns wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Burns works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Burns thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Burns working the head and body with strikes.
Burns trying to control the action but Cross is working from the bottom.
Burns connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cross some visible discomfort.
Cross taking a bit of punishment here - Burns scoring with strikes.

Burns working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Burns lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cross down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Burns lands some shots froms side control.
Burns scoring with punches and elbows.
Burns working the head with strikes.
Burns scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cross wants to control but Burns postures up.
Cross sneaks back into half guard.
Burns lands strikes from half guard.
Cross is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Burns winds up and cracks Cross with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tone Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Burns lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cross flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cross is in trouble now - Burns has advanced to mount!
Burns cracks Cross with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Cross is rocked!
Cross sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cross is looking to improve his position.
Burns tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cross knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
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 looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Burns performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cross wants to improve his position but Burns is controlling well.
Carl Burns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cross tries to roll over but Burns keeps him under control.
Burns slows the pace down in half guard.
Cross wants to get back to full guard.
Burns takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carl Burns.

Burns closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cross's guard.
Burns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Burns from controlling successfully.
Burns controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Burns 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Burns!
Carl Burns took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, 10th Degree Fightwear for their support in the buildup to the fight.