PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross comes into the arena with The American Dream Song blaring out of the sound system. Charles has chosen Don't Fake the Funk by Prince Charles as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Henry Charles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cross
vs
Charles

179 cm
32
168 lbs
29 - 10 - 2

175 cm
28
167 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Heat Rising Clothing, LLC
Legion of Pain Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Cross!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Henry Charles!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Charles manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cross on his heels. He'll look to pass Cross's guard now, I'm sure.
Charles is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cross managing to control the position.
Cross has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Cross's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because David Cross wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Charles.
Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Charles manages to avoid it.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Charles tries for a takedown but Cross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cross looks to score with a jab to the body but Charles is just out of range.
Cross doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henry Charles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Cross saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Charles there.
Charles misses with a straight right.
Charles tries to clinch there but Cross circles away.
Charles misses with a straight right.
Charles takes one on the button.
Cross scores with a nice head shot.
Cross misses with a body shot.
A lazy left from Charles finds it's target.
Cross is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cross throws a body punch but Charles moves out of range.
Charles misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles slips a jab from Cross.
Cross throws a body punch but Charles moves out of range.
Charles tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Charles throws the left hand but Cross avoids the punch easily.
Charles walks into a jab.

It looks like Henry Charles has been cut.
Charles is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cross sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
David Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Charles.
Charles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Charles fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross connects with the punch.
Cross with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cross misses the shot to the body.
Charles 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.
Charles throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.

Charles throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cross was covering up waiting for the punch and Charles finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cross is adopting a defensive guard.
Charles won't allow Cross to sweep him here.
Cross is pulling down on Charles's head to control his posture.
Charles wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Charles drives through and clinches with Cross against the cage.
Charles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cross to keep the fight standing.
Charles prevents a body shot from Cross.
Charles misses with some punches.
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.
Charles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Charles avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Cross wants a takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Charles backwards.
Cross lands with a short shot to the head.
Charles has a couple of punches blocked by Cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross misses with a punch to the body.

Cross manages to break the clinch.
Charles drops his hands momentarily and Cross takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Charles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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 David Cross will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henry Charles's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Charles misses the shot to the body.
Cross lands a body shot.
Charles slips under a jab.
Cross lands a nice hook to Charles's body. Charles takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Charles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Charles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Charles lands with a nice body punch.
Charles is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cross sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cross is looking to wear down Charles with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cross lands a slapping body shot.
Cross scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cross moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Cross slips a jab from Charles.
Cross connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross throws a good cross that connects.
Charles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.

Charles shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Charles showed some decent athleticism there.
Cross works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cross pulls Charles in close to prevent any damage.
Charles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cross is keeping the position for now.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Charles manages to get himself to full guard.
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 pushes down on Charles's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cross working the head and body with strikes.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Charles is staying active underneath Cross, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Charles is looking for a sweep. Cross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cross winds up and cracks Charles with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Charles keeps working.
Charles is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Charles is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Charles trying to hold on to Cross's head to control him but Cross postures up.
Cross drops an elbow to the side of Charles's head.
Cross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cross is thwarting Charles's attempts to control the position.
Charles regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross throwing strikes but missing.
Cross tries to free his leg and advance position but Charles is retaining full guard.
Charles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cross trying to control but Charles is working from the bottom.
Cross is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Charles wants to hit a switch here but Cross passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Charles there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henry Charles's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Charles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charles thows a body shot but no joy.
Charles takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Charles moves out of range as Cross strikes.
Charles scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cross doesn't seem bothered though.
A combination from Charles does no damage.
Charles has a takedown stuffed.

Charles scores with a takedown into Cross's guard.
Cross working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross pulls Charles in close to prevent any damage.

Cross is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Charles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cross to keep the fight standing.

Cross breaks the clinch.
Charles misses with a two punch combination.
A shot to the liver by Cross. Beautiful body shot.
Cross lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A decent looking cross lands there for Charles.
Cross tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Charles was well out of range. Poor timing from Cross.
Cross lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Charles.
David Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Charles just misses with a punch to the body.
Charles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cross slips a straight right by Charles.
Cross connects with a body shot that sends Charles's belly button to the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Charles throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cross stuffs the takedown attempt from Charles. Charles gets slowly back to his feet.
David Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Charles.
Charles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charles throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Cross takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cross missing with a left hand there. Charles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles tries to clinch but Cross is having none of it.
Charles on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cross. Cross obviously looking to wear him down.
Charles on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Decent striking displayed by Cross there.
Charles uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cross.
Cross cracks Charles with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Charles misses with a hook.
Charles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cross throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Charles stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Charles looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cross throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Charles on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles moves to clinch but Cross breaks away
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Charles is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Charles is still on wobbly legs! Can Cross finish him?
Charles uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cross.

Charles takes the fight into the clinch.
Charles seems to have recovered his senses.
Charles lands a shot to the body.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Cross turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross wants to control but Charles is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Henry Charles's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch combination from Cross misses.
Cross leaves Charles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cross fails to land the takedown.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cross.
Cross throws a front kick that sends Charles stumbling back into the cage.
Charles looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cross stuns Charles with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Charles is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Cross uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Charles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Charles throws a series of punches but Cross avoids them all with ease.
Cross swings for the body but Charles moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Charles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross avoids a punch combination nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cross.
Charles throws a hook but Cross blocks it.
Charles misses the body punch
and Cross counters with a head kick. That will keep Charles thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A nice leg kick lands there from Cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross connects with the punch.
Cross misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cross misses with an uppercut. Charles saw that one coming.
Cross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Charles.
Cross lands with an overhand left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Charles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Charles throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Cross to counter with a crisp jab.
Cross misses the shot to the body.
Charles misses the shot to the body.
Cross scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Charles is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Charles scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A big left from Charles misses.
Cross throws a hook but Charles blocks it.
Cross fails with the takedown.
Charles tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cross counters with a nice uppercut.
Charles misses with a right hand
and Cross counters with a stiff right hand.
Cross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Charles.
David Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Charles.
Cross moves out of range as Charles strikes.
Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Charles manages to avoid it.
Henry Charles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross throws a front kick that sends Charles stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles throws a leg kick but Cross sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cross lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Charles misses with a left hand
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Charles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cross scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Charles manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cross on his heels. He'll look to pass Cross's guard now, I'm sure.
Cross 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.
Cross has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cross lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Charles!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross had his way with Henry Charles in that round.
The cut man is working on Henry Charles'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!

Cross uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Charles.

Charles tries to sprawl but Cross drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cross sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Charles is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cross working Charles over with strikes.
Charles trying to control but Cross postures up.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross is trying to control. Charles wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Charles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cross.
Charles taking some punishment here, with Cross in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Charles defending well though.
Cross with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Cross is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to control from Charles's half guard. Charles has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Charles looking for a sweep. Not yet Charles, not yet.
Charles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henry Charles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Charles looking for a sweep. Not yet Charles, not yet.
Cross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charles is keeping the position for now.
Cross pushes down on Charles's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cross thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Charles's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Charles keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cross throws a strike but Charles avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
David Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cross is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cross landing with the ground and pound.
Charles keeping full guard, as Cross tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cross throws a big elbow that misses.
Cross sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
David 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 50:45
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Cross!
David Cross retains his lightweight title!
In his post fight interview, David Cross started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.