PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conan Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Also Zarathustra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zarathustra has chosen Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night as his entrance music. Also Zarathustra told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cross
vs
Zarathustra

174 cm
27
180 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

185 cm
33
185 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Meet the Future
KO Clothing

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 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Conan Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Also Zarathustra!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross scores with a hook.
Cross will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cross misses the shot to the body.
We've been told by Cross's head coaches at Meats Slaughter House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zarathustra swings for the body but Cross moves out of range.
Cross throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zarathustra tries to work over Cross's front leg with a kick but Cross checks it.
Zarathustra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.
Cross lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Zarathustra misses with a wild combination.
Cross moves out of range of the strikes.
Zarathustra swings for the body but Cross moves out of range.
Zarathustra just misses with a punch to the body.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Cross.
Zarathustra is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cross rather than just go for the knockout.
Cross misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Zarathustra finds it's target.
Zarathustra throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cross slips under a jab.
Zarathustra thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zarathustra throws a good cross that connects.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Cross buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cross. Zarathustra shrugs it off though.
Zarathustra 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.
Zarathustra misses with a straight left.
Zarathustra rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Cross holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cross working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cross blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zarathustra blocks a body shot from Cross.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zarathustra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cross's elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zarathustra.

Zarathustra breaks the clinch.
Cross moves out of range as Zarathustra strikes.
Zarathustra misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cross takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zarathustra.
Conan Cross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zarathustra just misses with a punch to the body.
Cross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cross, as that shot connected.
Cross pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zarathustra is out of range and Cross settles back down.
Zarathustra chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cross can pounce on him.
Zarathustra takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zarathustra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cross looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zarathustra misses the jab.
Cross gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zarathustra.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zarathustra.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zarathustra crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cross - the referee stops the clock and Zarathustra gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cross. Zarathustra manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zarathustra lands with a shot to the body.
Cross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cross. Zarathustra does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cross.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Cross connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cross takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cross throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cross dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zarathustra. That did some damage!
Cross scores with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zarathustra misses the jab.
Zarathustra thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cross lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zarathustra at a distance.
Cross fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zarathustra.
Zarathustra just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Zarathustra blocks the low kick.
Zarathustra lands a jab to the nose.
Cross is looking to clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cross!
Cross tries to clinch but Zarathustra is having none of it.
Cross is looking to chop away at Zarathustra's legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cross.
Zarathustra just misses with a punch to the body.
Cross lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zarathustra's sensitive parts.
Cross misses with a wild body shot.
Zarathustra throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zarathustra is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zarathustra waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarathustra misses with an uppercut.
Cross throws a combination that misses
and Zarathustra counters with a straight right hand.
Cross wants to slow Zarathustra down by chopping away at his legs.
Cross throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Cross dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cross dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zarathustra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Cross misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zarathustra misses with a wild body shot.
Zarathustra misses with an uppercut.
Cross scores with a leg kick.
Cross with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Cross connects with an inside leg kick.
Cross uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra misses with a left hand

and Cross counters by moving into the clinch.
Zarathustra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross lands with a left to the head.
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
Cross lands a left hand.
Cross lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarathustra dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zarathustra's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Zarathustra scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cross swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zarathustra prevents a body shot from Cross.
Zarathustra lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zarathustra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zarathustra prevents a body shot from Cross.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zarathustra.
Zarathustra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cross.
Zarathustra lands an uppercut.
Cross throws a punch but it's blocked by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarathustra swings wildly with an uppercut but Cross uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zarathustra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarathustra lands a jab to Cross's midsection.
Cross swinging wildly here.
Zarathustra throws a hook but Cross blocks it.
Cross blocks a jab.
Cross avoids the body shot from Zarathustra.
Cross fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab from Cross does it's job there.
Cross fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zarathustra has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zarathustra looks to land a left hand but Cross moved out of range nicely.
Cross lands a leg kick that knocks Zarathustra off balance momentarily.
Zarathustra punishes Cross's body with a nice straight punch.

Cross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarathustra tries to throw a body punch but Cross avoids it by throwing Zarathustra back against the cage.
Zarathustra lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zarathustra lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cross makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cross.
Cross misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zarathustra blocks an uppercut.
Cross lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zarathustra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zarathustra working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zarathustra fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarathustra misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Zarathustra scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zarathustra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zarathustra lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zarathustra backwards.
Zarathustra tries to throw a body punch but Cross avoids it by throwing Zarathustra back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross swings wildly with an uppercut but Zarathustra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zarathustra softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Zarathustra jumps guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Zarathustra had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.
Cross trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zarathustra wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zarathustra looking for a guillotine here but Cross defends easily.
Zarathustra keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Conan Cross will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cross dodges the punch combination from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra lands a glancing blow to the side of Cross's head.
Cross misses with a head kick.
Conan Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Zarathustra throws a big shot that misses.
Zarathustra throws a good cross that connects.
Zarathustra takes a swing at Cross's ribcage but misses.
Zarathustra lands an overhand right.
Zarathustra jabs at Cross's body.
Cross tries to clinch but Zarathustra is having none of it.
Zarathustra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cross throws a hook but Zarathustra blocks it.
The fighters circling - Cross throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zarathustra misses with a series of wild punches.
Zarathustra blocks a head kick by Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra lands with an uppercut that bounces Cross off the cage and back into range.
Zarathustra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Zarathustra.
Cross misses with a body kick.
Cross goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zarathustra uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cross.
Cross throws an overhand right that lands on Zarathustra's shoulder, as Zarathustra tries to avoid the shot.
Zarathustra throws a body punch but Cross moves out of range.
Zarathustra throws a right hand that misses

and Cross counters by moving into the clinch.
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
Zarathustra makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cross has a couple of punches blocked by Zarathustra.
Conan Cross has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zarathustra taking a breather.
Cross misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.
Cross lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zarathustra backwards.
Conan Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cross backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cross creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarathustra is trying to stall.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zarathustra lands a shoulder strike.
Cross misses with a punch to the body.
Cross lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zarathustra backwards.
Zarathustra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cross lands a nice uppercut.
Cross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cross lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross keeps control of Zarathustra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cross blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zarathustra is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cross is keeping busy.
Zarathustra changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cross fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cross has closed the distance and engaged Zarathustra in a clinch.
Also Zarathustra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cross.
Zarathustra just leaning against Cross, taking a breather.
Zarathustra lands with a right to the head.
Zarathustra is trying to break the clinch but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Cross lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Zarathustra fails to land.
Zarathustra looking to slow down the pace here.
Cross blocks a body shot from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra tries a body shot but Cross blocks it.
Cross has Zarathustra pressed against the cage, preventing Zarathustra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cross stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross lands with a light punch inside.
Zarathustra taking a breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross throws a head punch that misses.
Cross presses Zarathustra against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Also Zarathustra.
I think Cross has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

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