PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Cronkite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iivana Jalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cronkite might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Croc song!. Jalo has chosen Aino Venna - Waltz to Paris as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cronkite
vs
Jalo

175 cm
24
250 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

203 cm
24
266 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

All 160

Meet the Future

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Melvin Cronkite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iivana Jalo!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cronkite ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've been hearing reports that Cronkite has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Cronkite fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jalo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Melvin Cronkite has been cut.
Cronkite tries for a takedown but Jalo circles away easily
and Jalo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jalo throws the left hand but Cronkite avoids the punch easily.
Jalo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cronkite keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cronkite tried to score with a low kick but Jalo checks it.
Jalo misses with an uppercut. Cronkite saw that one coming.

Cronkite gets a takedown into half guard.
Jalo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Cronkite sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jalo defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cronkite throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cronkite is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jalo defends it well.
Jalo wants to control but Cronkite is keeping busy.
Jalo is in trouble now - Cronkite has advanced to mount!
Cronkite lands a big shot there that rocks Jalo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jalo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cronkite 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.
Cronkite is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cronkite is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cronkite looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jalo is one step ahead there.

Cronkite is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cronkite throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cronkite is on top in guard.
Cronkite wants to control from the top but Jalo keeps moving.
Cronkite pushing down on Jalo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cronkite wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jalo keeps working.
Cronkite trying to pass the guard but Jalo defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jalo is defending against the submission attempts here by Cronkite.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jalo keeping hold of Cronkite's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Cronkite dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Melvin Cronkite's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jalo swings widly with a right hand

and Cronkite counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cronkite.
Jalo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Cronkite here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cronkite throwing strikes from guard but Jalo blocks nicely.
Jalo wants to sweep but no luck.
Cronkite trying to control but Jalo is working from the bottom.
Cronkite pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jalo is keeping the position for now.
Melvin Cronkite overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cronkite is looking to work some ground and pound but Jalo has wrist control.
Cronkite trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalo can't keep his opponent in guard - Cronkite advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Cronkite seems to be working for a kimura but Jalo defends the submission attempt.
Cronkite winds up and cracks Jalo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cronkite moves into full mount! Jalo won't be happy about that!
Jalo is looking to improve his position but Cronkite isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalo stops Cronkite from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Cronkite working for a guillotine from mount but Jalo is in no mood to give up.
Jalo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cronkite lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

It looks like Iivana Jalo has been cut.
Cronkite misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Cronkite goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Jalo is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalo preventing the sweep.
Jalo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cronkite working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jalo.
Cronkite might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cronkite looking to control.
Cronkite looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cronkite is on top in guard.
Cronkite wants to pass the guard but Jalo is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cronkite throws a big right hand that misses.
Cronkite chips away with some ground and pound.
Cronkite wants to pass the guard but Jalo is keeping the position.
Cronkite keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jalo's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cronkite looking to sit in guard and control but Jalo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cronkite tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Cronkite dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jalo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jalo looks to land a body kick but Cronkite moved away.
Jalo misses with a straight left.
Cronkite shoots for a double leg takedown but Jalo sprawls well. He's pushed Cronkite's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jalo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cronkite doesn't seem bothered though.

Cronkite shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cronkite was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Cronkite looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jalo wants to control but Cronkite postures up.
Cronkite tries to move to mount but Jalo blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Jalo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cronkite looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Cronkite swings around for an armbar but Jalo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cronkite's guard.

Cronkite looking for a guillotine here but Jalo defends easily.
Jalo trying to control but Cronkite is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Cronkite looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cronkite is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cronkite wants to sweep here but Jalo controlling him for the moment.
Iivana Jalo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronkite has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jalo has passed into side control.
Jalo trying to control the action but Cronkite is working from the bottom.
Cronkite tries to buck Jalo off but Jalo is having none of it.
Jalo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cronkite sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cronkite tries to bench press Jalo off him but Jalo keeps the position.
Jalo controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cronkite is looking to regain half guard here but Jalo keeps moving and retains side control.
Cronkite dodges the ground and pound from Jalo.
Cronkite is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Jalo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Cronkite is looking to get to half guard.
Jalo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cronkite because Jalo loaded up on that one.
Jalo throws some wild stikes that Cronkite manages to avoid easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cronkite working to try and regain half guard.
Cronkite is squirming around, avoiding Jalo's attempts to control the action.

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 Melvin Cronkite.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cronkite, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melvin Cronkite!
A relieved looking Melvin Cronkite thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.