PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derek Patterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janus Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patterson comes to the cage accompanied by Hotel Service Room. Patterson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Patterson
vs
Cross

179 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

150 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Patterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Janus Cross!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Cross scores with a takedown into Patterson's guard.
Cross postures up in Patterson's guard and throws a big left but Patterson blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cross decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Patterson, up you get!

Cross closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Patterson to the mat! Patterson manages to get full guard.
Patterson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cross thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cross is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cross throwing strikes from guard but Patterson blocks nicely.

Patterson looking for a guillotine here but Cross defends easily.
Patterson is breathing heavily.
Cross advances to half guard.
Cross seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Patterson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Patterson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross trying to control from half guard but Patterson is working away.

Cross seems to be looking for submissions.

Cross is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Patterson moves into full guard.
Cross trying to control but Patterson is working from the bottom.

Cross avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cross looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cross thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Patterson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cross can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Patterson keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Patterson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cross!
Patterson prevents Cross from getting the reversal.
Cross wants to control but Patterson is having none of it.

Patterson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross prevents Patterson from taking his back.
Cross regains half guard.

Cross is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Patterson pulls his head out easily.
Cross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Patterson is working away from the top position though.

Patterson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cross sees it coming and defends easily.

Patterson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cross is just riding it out for now. Patterson eventually gives up the hold.
Cross is trying to maintain the position but Patterson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cross is staying active underneath Patterson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cross moves into full guard.

Cross working for a triangle but Patterson defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Patterson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Patterson trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janus Cross dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cross scores a takedown into full mount!
Cross mounts Patterson! Really nice guard pass there!

Cross wants to finish this one by submission but Patterson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cross.
Patterson regains half guard.
Patterson gets back to full guard.

Cross thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross stays in close to Patterson's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Patterson working for a triangle but Cross defends it easily.

Cross has gone for a leg lock! Patterson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cross's guard.
Patterson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Patterson stands and throws Cross's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Janus Cross has got the better of the ground game so far.

Patterson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cross tries to bench press Patterson off him but Patterson keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cross is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Patterson blocks the strikes from Cross.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Patterson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cross counters with a nice double leg into side control. Patterson won't be happy with that.
Cross in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Patterson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Patterson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Cross drops back looking for a leg! Patterson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Patterson manages to kick Cross off! Cross jumps back into Patterson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Patterson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Patterson looking for a sweep. Not yet Patterson, not yet.
Cross slips nicely into half guard.
Cross perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Patterson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cross is working for a submission of some sort.

Patterson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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.
Patterson is looking to improve his position.

Cross is working for a submission of some sort.
Patterson regains full guard. Nicely done.

Cross postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Patterson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cross, into his guard.
Patterson is pushing down on Cross's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cross is fighting to maintain full guard but Patterson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Patterson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cross's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janus Cross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Cross with a poor takedown
and Patterson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Cross closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Patterson is trying to stand.

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

Cross is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cross is looking for a kimura but Patterson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cross to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Patterson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Patterson is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cross won't allow Patterson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Patterson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Patterson keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Patterson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Patterson wants to pass the guard but Cross is defending well.

Patterson is working for a submission of some sort.
Cross works his way to full guard. Good work.

Cross is looking for a triangle but Patterson pushes his legs off easily.

Patterson drops back looking for a leg! Cross is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cross manages to kick Patterson off! Patterson jumps back into Cross's guard.
Cross wants to sweep here but Patterson controlling him for the moment.
Derek Patterson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Patterson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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 is looking for a kimura but Patterson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cross to get the leverage.

Cross is working for a submission of some sort.

Patterson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cross is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Patterson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patterson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Patterson won't allow Cross to pass to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cross fails to land the takedown.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Patterson but Patterson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Derek Patterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janus Cross.
Patterson fails with the takedown

and Cross counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Patterson 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.
Patterson looking for a sweep. Not yet Patterson, not yet.
Patterson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cross passes Patterson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Patterson is looking for a sweep. Cross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cross is looking for a kimura here.
Cross prevents Patterson from improving his position.

Cross is looking for a kimura but Patterson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cross to get the leverage.
Janus Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Patterson looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janus Cross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cross winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

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