PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pan Allan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The New Black by Every Time I Die. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Allan
vs
Cross

194 cm
20
212 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pan Allan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Cross!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross swinging wilding here.

Allan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Allan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross gets full guard.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Allan from controlling successfully.
Cross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cross is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cross keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Allan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cross is keeping the position for now.
Cross trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cross wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wants to stand and escape but Allan is having none of it.

Allan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Allan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cross works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Allan looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Allan is looking to clinch.

Allan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cross wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cross wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cross gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Allan.
Cross lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Allan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cross breaks from the clinch.

Allan scores a takedown into full mount!
Cross manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Allan is breathing heavily.
Cross works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cross trying to control the position.
Cross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cross is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to take a breather but Allan is having none of it.
Allan is pressing down on Cross's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Allan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cross passes into half guard.

Allan actively working from the bottom here.

Allan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cross is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cross perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cross working Allan over with strikes.
Allan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cross wants to control from the top but Allan keeps moving.
Allan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cross sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Allan throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Cross working some strikes from top position.
Cross won't allow Allan to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross dominated that round.
That's time! Allan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Allan dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Cross missing with a left hand there. Allan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cross connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Allan's hands.

It looks like Pan Allan has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Cross misses the target.
Cross looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cross throws the left hand but Allan avoids the punch easily.
Cross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Allan.
Cross tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Allan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Allan throws a looping overhand right but Cross ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross drops Allan with a nice combination! Cross dives into Allan's guard, looking to finish!

Allan is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Allan looking for a sweep. Not yet Allan, not yet.
Oh Allan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cross postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cross wants to stand but Allan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Allan seems to have got his legs back now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Allan is on top in guard.
Allan prevents Cross from getting back to his feet.
Cross striking off his back but it's not causing Allan any problems.
Cross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Allan slips nicely into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cross is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Allan seems to be looking for submissions.
Cross tries to roll over but Allan keeps him under control.
Cross trying to control here.
Cross won't allow Allan to pass to mount.
Cross desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross scores with a few weak punches.

Allan is trying to work for a kimura but Cross is defending well.
Allan wants to advance to full mount but Cross doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Allan being controlled here momentarily.
Cross 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.
Allan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cross is trying to control the position but Allan postures up.
Cross manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Allan working to try and regain half guard.
Cross looking to control but Allan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Allan is looking to improve his position but Cross isn't that keen on the idea.
Cross lands a big shot there that rocks Allan but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pan Allan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

A jab from Allan misses.
Cross shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Allan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cross darts in trying to clinch

and Allan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cross's guard now.

Allan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cross looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cross looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cross!
Cross scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cross in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Allan is trying to improve his position.

Cross has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross misses with an uppercut.

Cross drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Allan gets back to half guard.
Cross wants to free his trapped foot but Allan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Allan is looking for a sweep. Cross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cross lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Allan gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross with a nice head shot there.
Cross controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cross's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cross wants to pass the guard but Allan is keeping the position.

Allan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cross gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Allan has his foot on Cross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cross works his way back into a safe position though.

Allan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cross doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cross manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Allan is looking to reverse the position.
Cross is looking to take a break and control but Allan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cross stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cross misses with a looping right.
Cross misses with a two punch combination.
Cross misses with a double jab

and Allan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cross's guard now.
David Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Allan from controlling successfully.
Allan connects with a couple of short punches.
Cross controls Allan momentarily but Allan frees himself.
Allan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cross is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Allan is controlling him.
Cross can't keep his opponent in guard - Allan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pan Allan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Allan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cross defends it well.

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 Pan Allan.
Well Cross has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

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