PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Corner Bum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Corner Bum has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bum
vs
Cross

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Corner Bum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Cross!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bum tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice sprawl there from Cross as Bum shoots in.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bum as he avoids it easily.

Bum shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bum is keen to just control but Cross is a slippery customer.
Cross blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bum.
Bum working over Cross with some ground and pound. Cross looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bum controlling the pace.
Bum wants to free his trapped foot but Cross is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cross's head.
Bum is thwarting Cross's attempts to control the position.
Bum wants to take a breather but Cross is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bum is thwarting Cross's attempts to control the position.
Cross won't allow Bum to pass to mount.
Bum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cross tries to roll over but Bum keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Bum or perhaps it was just good defense by Cross which made him look bad.
Bum shoots in looking for a takedown but Cross manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bum's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corner Bum. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bum fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cross to the ground. Bum is now in Cross's guard.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Bum defends easily.
Bum is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bum trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bum postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bum trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bum scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bum with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Bum from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bum wants to stand but Cross is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bum wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.

Corner Bum has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Bum closes the distance and clinches.
Cross blocks a body shot from Bum.
Cross tries to pull guard but Bum won't allow it.
Cross misses with a knee strike.
Cross managing to block the knees to the body from Bum.

Bum manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bum.
Bum wants to clinch up but Cross keeps it at a distance.
Cross keeps the fight on the outside.
Bum tries to close the distance and clinch but Cross swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bum tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cross manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bum wants to clinch.
Cross fails with the takedown.
Bum tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bum closes the distance but Cross moves to the side

and Cross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corner Bum dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cross closes the distance and clinches up with Bum, looking for a takedown. Cross pushes Bum against the cage but Bum circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bum fails with the takedown.

Cross looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cross wants to stand up but Bum is controlling the position.
Bum wants to control but Cross is keeping busy.
Bum controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Cross not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Bum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bum fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cross has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bum is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bum is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cross is defending well for now.

Bum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross goes for a double leg but Bum avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bum continues to drive forward.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Bum is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Corner Bum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Cross.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Bum manages to pull guard.
Bum looking for a sweep. Not yet Bum, not yet.

Bum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bum looking to control.
Cross stops Bum from standing up.
Bum looking for a sweep. Not yet Bum, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bum pulls Cross in close to his closed guard and prevents Cross from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.
Cross controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross won't allow Bum to sweep him here.
Cross is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Cross.
Bum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bum gets tackled into the cage by Cross. Cross maintains the clinch.
Bum lands a damaging elbow.
Bum creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bum with a knee to the head.
Bum goes for a takedown attempt but Cross pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bum.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bum gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cross to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bum seems keen to control Cross's posture.
Cross wants to stand but Bum has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bum has an active guard here but Cross has managed to pass into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Bum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Cross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Bum tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cross sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bum somewhat.
Corner Bum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross fails with the takedown.
Bum tries to clinch but Cross moves out of range.
Cross shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bum pinned against the cage. Bum gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bum tries for a takedown but Cross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bum will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corner Bum. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cross moves into the clinch.

Bum gets control of Cross's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bum will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Corner Bum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cross trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross trying to control but Bum is working from the bottom.
Bum 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.
Bum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cross throws a big right hand that misses.
Bum looking to control.
Cross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cross is fighting to break Bum's control of his arms but Bum is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Corner Bum wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bum fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross goes for a double leg but Bum avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bum continues to drive forward.
Bum is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cross is defending well.
Bum is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cross pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bum to keep the fight standing.
Bum tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cross avoids it.
Bum can't get the takedown.

Cross escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bum closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cross circles away.
Cross pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bum back to the cage. Cross follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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 throws a half hearted mid kick.

Cross closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bum trying to land knees to the body.
Cross throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cross fails to pull guard.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Corner Bum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bum shoots in but Cross avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Bum as Cross shoots in.

Bum shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Bum is trying to work for a kimura but Cross is defending well.

Bum wants to work for an arm triangle but Cross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cross is refusing to be controlled, as Bum sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bum throwing shots but Cross is blocking nicely.
Bum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cross is looking to control Bum's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cross avoid being mounted?
Bum is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cross wants to control but Bum is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bum misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cross throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bum's waist but Bum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cross off to one side.

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 Corner Bum.
I think Bum 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corner Bum!