PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conan Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Emperor's Dawn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cross
vs
Martinez

174 cm
29
150 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

178 cm
36
154 lbs
32 - 21 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Conan Cross!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez scores with a decent looking hook.
Cross throws an off balance right hand

and Martinez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cross's guard.
Martinez trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross wants to hit a switch here but Martinez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cross there!
Cross is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cross tries to lock up and control but Martinez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cross's coaches at Meats Slaughter House have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Martinez controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez breaks from Cross's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Martinez punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Martinez looking to ground and pound but Cross is blocking nicely.
Martinez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Martinez working his ground and pound in the gym.
Cross is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Martinez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cross really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross is bucking up trying to escape but Martinez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cross holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Martinez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Martinez wants to control but Cross has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martinez is stalling here. Cross is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Martinez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cross has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cross trying to control the action but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Cross working the ground and pound.
Martinez tries to bench press Cross off him but Cross keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Martinez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cross in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Martinez tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez gets back to half guard.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
Martinez trying to get back to full guard but Cross takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Martinez is looking to improve his position but Cross isn't that keen on the idea.
Cross trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez is desperately trying to improve his position but Cross has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Martinez dominated that round.
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.

Cross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross connects with a solid leg kick.
Cross lands with a cross.
Martinez throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
Conan Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martinez tries a low kick but Cross avoids it.
Martinez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Martinez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martinez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Conan Cross has been cut.
Martinez misses with a lunging right hand

and Cross counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Martinez wants to hold on but Cross pushes him away.
Cross breaks from Martinez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Martinez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross looking to finish Martinez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Martinez!
Martinez is squirming around, avoiding Cross's attempts to control the action.
Cross is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Martinez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Martinez gets back to half guard.
Martinez wants to improve his position but Cross is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Martinez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Martinez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Richard Martinez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martinez controls Cross momentarily but Cross frees himself.
Cross wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Cross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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!
Martinez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Martinez.

Martinez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cross passes into side control.
Cross in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Martinez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross working the ground and pound from side control.
Martinez gets back to half guard.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Martinez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cross's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Martinez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cross defends well.
Martinez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cross's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross is controlling Martinez's posture.
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.
The cut man is working on Conan Cross's cut.
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.

Cross throws a front kick aimed at Martinez's knee but Martinez avoids it well.
Martinez misses with a body kick.
Martinez stuns Cross with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Martinez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Martinez lands a left hand.
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
Cross blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cross working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cross presses Martinez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Martinez struggles to land a body shot inside as Cross controls his hands.
Cross tries a body shot but Martinez blocks it.
Martinez misses with a punch to the body.
Cross lands a left hand that snaps the head of Martinez backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Cross - that landed with a thud.
A nice left hand lands by Martinez.
Cross lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Martinez looking for a takedown.
Martinez misses with the head strike.
Martinez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Martinez throws a punch but it's blocked by Cross.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cross swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Martinez avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Martinez lands a right hand.
Cross blocks a body shot from Martinez.
Cross scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Martinez scores with a shoulder strike.
Martinez lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cross working aggressively here.
Martinez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Conan Cross has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross scores with a shoulder strike.
Martinez stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Martinez prevents a body shot from Cross.
Martinez misses with a body punch.
Cross takes a shot to the head.
Martinez has a couple of punches blocked by Cross.
Martinez tries a body shot but Cross blocks it.
Martinez working aggressively here.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Martinez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Cross - that landed with a thud.
Cross pushes Martinez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross scores with a hook to the body.
Martinez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cross prevents it.
Cross digs a right hand into Martinez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Martinez's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cross.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cross.
Cross tries to work over Martinez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Martinez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cross's elbow.
Cross scores with a shot to the side of Martinez's head.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Martinez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cross throws a head punch that misses.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cross scores with a nice hook to the head.
Martinez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cross blocking some punches.
Cross lands a left hand that snaps the head of Martinez backwards.
Martinez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Martinez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross has a couple of punches blocked by Martinez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cross lands a nice uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
Martinez prevents a body shot from Cross.
Cross lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cross scores with a shoulder strike.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Martinez tries to throw a body punch but Cross avoids it by throwing Martinez back against the cage.
Cross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cross throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Martinezs head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross throws a punch but it's blocked by Martinez.
Martinez lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Martinez.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Cross clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Conan Cross's cut.
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.

Cross shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Martinez's guard.
Cross stands and throws Martinez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Martinez tries to bench press Cross off him but Cross keeps the position.
Cross trying to control the action but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Martinez tries to bench press Cross off him but Cross keeps the position.
Martinez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cross is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Cross's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Martinez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Martinez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cross is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Martinez reverses the position - he's now on top in Cross's guard.
Cross has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Martinez has passed into side control.
Cross tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is chipping away with strikes.
Cross is looking for a sweep.
Martinez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cross keeps working.
Martinez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cross haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cross takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Martinez happy to just control the position for now.
Martinez tries to move to mount but Cross blocks the move with his legs.
Cross is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Martinez off and has taken his back!
Cross gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to control momentarily.
Martinez wants to escape the position.
Cross lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Martinez is in bad spot here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Martinez is looking for a way out.
Martinez tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Cross had his way with Richard Martinez in that round.
The cut man is working on Conan Cross's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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 throws a leg kick but Martinez moved away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cross lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Martinez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Martinez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cross wants to slow Martinez down by chopping away at his legs.
Martinez throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross moves out of range as Martinez throws a body kick.
Cross misses with a body shot.
Martinez fails with the takedown

and Cross counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cross.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cross is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martinez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cross is stalling in the full guard.

Martinez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cross passes into side control.
Martinez is trying to control Cross's posture but Cross avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Cross cracks Martinez with a big elbow.
Cross trying to control the action but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Cross cracks Martinez with a big elbow.
Martinez is not content to let Cross control the position.
Martinez is looking to reverse the position.
Richard Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is still trying to improve position.
Martinez struggling a bit here.
Cross misses with the ground and pound.
Cross controls the position.
Conan Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cross working away.
Martinez tries to bench press Cross off him but Cross keeps the position.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Martinez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cross staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Martinez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cross keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conan Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 49:46

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