PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ireneusz Doniecki (ranked 23207 p4p, 623 weight class) and Connor Cross (ranked 4199 p4p, 386 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Doniecki
vs
Cross

180 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ireneusz Doniecki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor Cross!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Cross misses.
Doniecki seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A shot to the liver by Cross. Beautiful body shot.
Doniecki throws a combination that misses
and Cross counters with a series of strikes. Doniecki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cross misses with a looping right.
Doniecki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Doniecki scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Doniecki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Doniecki connects with a crisp jab.
Connor Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Doniecki misses the shot to the body.
Cross tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sloppy strikes from Doniecki. Those never looked like landing.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Doniecki.
Cross scores with a crisp jab that stopped Doniecki in his tracks.
Doniecki swings widly with a right hand
and Cross counters with a left and a right that stings Doniecki.
Cross drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cross connects with a right hand. Doniecki shakes it off.
Cross bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cross jabs at Doniecki's body.
Doniecki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cross.
Good exchange - Cross coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross scores with a crisp jab that stopped Doniecki in his tracks.
Cross misses with an uppercut. Doniecki saw that one coming.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Doniecki misses with a wild body shot.
Cross is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Doniecki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cross.
Cross throws the left hand but Doniecki avoids the punch easily.
Doniecki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cross avoids a punch combination nicely.
Doniecki connects with a single shot there.
Cross digs a good body shot into Doniecki's ribs.
Cross throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cross throws a lazy right hand but Doniecki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No joy there for Doniecki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cross swinging wildly here.
Cross lands the left hand.
Cross swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doniecki throws an off balance right hand
and Cross counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Doniecki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cross.

Cross moves into the clinch.
Doniecki wants a takedown but no success here.
Doniecki blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Doniecki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Cross misses.
Doniecki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cross rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Doniecki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cross scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cross with a jab.
Cross takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cross throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Doniecki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cross misses with a looping right.
Some wild striking there from Cross.

Cross instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross has a couple of punches blocked by Doniecki.
Cross pushes Doniecki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Doniecki or not.
Cross stalling the fight.
Cross misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Cross.
A short right from Cross.
Doniecki fails to pull guard.
Cross has Doniecki pushed against the cage.

Doniecki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cross!
Doniecki misses with a two punch combination.
Despite the aggression on Cross's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Doniecki.
Cross looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Doniecki is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doniecki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cross.
Doniecki fails to land with a series of punches.
Cross misses with an uppercut.
Doniecki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Doniecki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cross throws a hook but Doniecki blocks it.
Good exchange - Cross coming out on top.
Cross catches Doniecki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cross takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cross throws a looping overhand right but Doniecki ducks down to avoid it.
Cross throws a shot from downtown. Doniecki moves away and avoids it.
Cross connects with a good right hand that stumbles Doniecki. Doniecki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Doniecki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cross cracks Doniecki with a good jab.
Doniecki lands a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross misses the jab.
Cross scores with a decent looking hook.
Cross tries to bum rush Doniecki with a series of wild strikes but Doniecki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slow jab from Cross misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cross dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cross lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Doniecki backs up against the cage.
Cross has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Doniecki misses with a series of wild punches.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cross! But no joy.
Doniecki misses with the combination.
A left and a right from Doniecki both land. Nice combination.
Connor Cross seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Doniecki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cross connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cross thuds a left hand into Doniecki's body.
Doniecki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Doniecki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Doniecki looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Doniecki walks into a straight right hand from Cross.
Cross throws a shot from downtown. Doniecki moves away and avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Doniecki misses with a left hand
and Cross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cross's jab looks to have found its range, popping Doniecki under the eye.
Doniecki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice shot by Cross.
Ireneusz Doniecki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Doniecki counters with a left and a right that stings Cross.
Cross lands with an overhand left.
Cross connects with a single shot there.
Cross's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cross duly obliges.

Cross moves into the clinch.
A short left from Cross.
Cross lands a right hand that snaps the head of Doniecki backwards.
A short body shot lands from Cross as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.
Cross gets through Doniecki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Doniecki tries to pull guard but Cross forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cross slowing the pace effectively.
Cross misses with a short punch on the inside.
Doniecki tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a shoulder strike.
Cross controlling the action here for a moment.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cross cracks Doniecki with a nice body shot.

Doniecki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doniecki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Cross to counter with a crisp jab.
Cross lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Doniecki ducks under a wild hook from Cross.
Good exchange - Cross coming out on top.
Cross throws a big shot that misses.
Doniecki missing with a left hand there. Cross was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Despite the aggression on Cross's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cross misses with an uppercut. Doniecki saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut lands for Cross. That snapped Doniecki's head back.
Doniecki throws a lazy uppercut
and Cross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Cross clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cross.
Cross is struggling to control the position.
Cross tries a body shot but Doniecki blocks it.
Cross lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cross stalls.
Cross lands a left hand.
Cross swings wildly with an uppercut but Doniecki uses good head movement to avoid it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cross takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cross digs a right hand underneath Doniecki's ribcage. Doniecki let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cross avoiding damage.
Cross stalling the fight.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Doniecki manages to break the clinch.
Doniecki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Doniecki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cross works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Doniecki throws a hook but Cross avoids it easily.
Doniecki walks into a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cross moves into the clinch successfully.
Connor Cross seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Doniecki blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Doniecki manages to break the clinch.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cross goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Doniecki blocks a jab.
Doniecki misses with a lunging right hand
and Cross counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Cross. That snapped Doniecki's head back.
Cross misses with a straight left.
Doniecki misses with the combination.
Doniecki misses with an uppercut
and Cross counters with a straight right hand.
Cross dips to his left and cracks Doniecki with an uppercut!
Doniecki throws a hook but Cross avoids it easily.
Cross throws a series of strikes that have Doniecki backpedaling.
Cross avoids the body shot from Doniecki.
Doniecki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cross misses with an uppercut
letting Doniecki counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross throws a series of strikes that have Doniecki backpedaling.
Cross swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doniecki was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cross misses with a looping left.
A big left from Cross misses.
Doniecki throws an off balance right hand
and Cross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross throws a hook to the side of Doniecki's head but Doniecki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An attempted straight right counter from Doniecki misses the target.
Doniecki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Doniecki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Doniecki throws a shot from downtown. Cross moves away and avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A combination from Doniecki does no damage.
Doniecki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Doniecki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cross misses with a looping right.
Doniecki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Doniecki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cross swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Doniecki.
Cross scores with a sloppy right hand. Doniecki should have avoided that one.
Cross throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Doniecki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cross has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nice defenses there by Doniecki.
Doniecki defending well as Cross loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Doniecki has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doniecki thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Cross.
Cross lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Doniecki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cross avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cross is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Doniecki.

Cross gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Cross fails to land.
Cross lands an uppercut.
Come on Cross - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Doniecki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross tries to clinch there but Doniecki circles away.
Doniecki throws a big counter combination but Cross scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cross slips a jab from Doniecki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Cross misses the target.
Cross misses with a looping left.
Cross lands a glancing blow to the side of Doniecki's head.
Cross jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Some wild striking there from Doniecki.
Doniecki moves away from the strike by Cross.
Doniecki is looking for a counter combo.
Doniecki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Cross to counter with a crisp jab.
Doniecki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cross jabs at Doniecki's body.
Doniecki looks to land a combination but Cross avoids it well.
Cross darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Cross clinches up against the cage.
Cross has Doniecki pressed against the cage.
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 lands a shoulder strike.
Cross lands with a short shot to the head.
Doniecki wants a takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cross takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cross makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Doniecki breaks from the clinch.
Cross jabs Doniecki right on the nose. Doniecki blinks but takes it well.
Doniecki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Doniecki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Some wild striking there from Cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot lands for Cross.
Ireneusz Doniecki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross misses with a straight left.
Doniecki is looking to counter punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Cross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Cross!
During a confident post fight interview, Connor Cross thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.