PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conan Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xantos Aremis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aremis has chosen Infected Mushroom - Merlin as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cross
vs
Aremis

174 cm
27
180 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

178 cm
24
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KO Clothing

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Conan Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xantos Aremis!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aremis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cross pinned against the cage. Cross gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cross misses the jab.
Conan Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Cross throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cross scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Xantos Aremis has been cut.
Aremis connects with a leg kick. Cross looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Aremis tries to move into range but Cross moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cross tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cross throws a wild body kick that Aremis sees coming a mile off.
Aremis ducks under a wild hook from Cross.
Aremis throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Aremis tries to clinch there but Cross circles away.
Aremis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Conan Cross has been cut.
Cross cracks the inside of Aremis's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aremis takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross connects with a solid leg kick.
Aremis misses with a low kick.
Cross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cross is looking to land body kicks.
Cross getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aremis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cross counters with an outside leg kick.
Aremis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Aremis has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cross misses with a body kick.
Aremis checks the leg kick.
Aremis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aremis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cross has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Aremis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cross. Aremis shrugs it off though.
Nice body punch from Cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aremis drives through with a takedown into Cross's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cross is on top in guard.
Cross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aremis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cross lands a couple of digs.
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.
Aremis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cross is looking to work some ground and pound but Aremis has wrist control.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Aremis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aremis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to control from the top but Aremis keeps moving.
Aremis looking for a sweep. Not yet Aremis, not yet.
Aremis is striking from the bottom but Cross uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Cross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cross lands with a punch from half guard.
Aremis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aremis.
Aremis is striking off his back. Cross thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cross connects with a nice short shot to Aremis's temple.
Aremis wants to control but Cross is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aremis taking some punishment here, with Cross in his half guard.
Aremis is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aremis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aremis wants to get back to full guard but Cross has mounted him!
The referee warns Aremis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Cross dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cross finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Aremis is looking to chop away at Cross's legs.
Cross wants to land a leg kick but Aremis is out of range.
Cross looks to land a right hand but Aremis moved out of range.
Cross misses the jab.
Aremis avoids the head kick by Cross.
Cross throws a series of punches but Aremis avoids them all with ease.

Cross looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cross wants to control but Aremis is keeping him busy.
Cross trying to advance position but Aremis counters by regaining guard.
Cross passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aremis defending well though.
Cross is controlling the pace.
Aremis is trying to stand back up but Cross is controlling him
Cross wants to pass the guard but Aremis is defending well.
Aremis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aremis keeping full guard, as Cross tries to pass.
Conan Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aremis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cross trying to control but Aremis is working from the bottom.
Cross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cross passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Cross is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Aremis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cross is trying to control here but Aremis has managed to regain half guard.
Aremis is looking for a sweep. Cross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cross controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aremis is staying active underneath Cross, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aremis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Aremis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Aremis wants to sweep here but Cross controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aremis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Aremis lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Cross dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Aremis has Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
Cross misses with a punch to the body.

Cross breaks from the clinch.
Cross throws a hook to the side of Aremis's head but Aremis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aremis throws a wild body kick that Cross sees coming a mile off.
Aremis scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cross throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Aremis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Aremis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cross looks to land a body kick but Aremis moved away.
Cross tries to work over Aremis's front leg with a kick but Aremis checks it.
Cross lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aremis does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Aremis shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aremis lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aremis looks to throw the jab but Cross is out of range.
Aremis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cross's head backwards.
Cross uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cross lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cross pivots, looking for a leg kick but Aremis is out of range and Cross settles back down.
Nice defenses there by Cross.
Cross lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cross. Aremis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Conan Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Cross checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Cross throws a low kick, looking for Aremis's leg but Aremis calmly moves out of range.
Aremis misses with the combination.
Xantos Aremis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conan Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aremis swings for the body but Cross moves out of range.
Cross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross misses with a leg kick
letting Aremis counter with a right hand.
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!
Aremis tries to move into range but Cross moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cross throws a looping overhand right but Aremis ducks down to avoid it.
Cross looks to land a body kick but Aremis moved away.
That kick from Cross tenderised Aremis's leg. Aremis is trying to keep his angry face on.
Aremis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Aremis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cross scores with a kick to the body.
Cross scores with a head kick.
Cross throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aremis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cross throws out the jab.
Cross defending well as Aremis loads up on a big left hand.
Aremis drops his hands momentarily and Cross takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A jab lands there for Cross.
Cross walks into a stiff left hand from Aremis.
Cross looks to throw the jab but Aremis is out of range.
Cross listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aremis.
Aremis stuffs the takedown attempt from Cross. Cross gets slowly back to his feet.
Aremis throws a big shot that misses.
Cross scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aremis misses with a low kick.
Aremis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cross.
Good leg kick by Cross there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cross fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aremis.
Cross throws a low kick but Aremis avoids it.
Aremis takes one on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aremis scores with a decent looking hook.
Cross lands a front kick.
Cross throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross throws a leg kick which misses Aremis's front leg but catches the back leg as Aremis tries to avoid it.
Aremis throws a hook but Cross blocks it.
Aremis keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Conan Cross.
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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conan Cross!