PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Napura Cross (ranked 9642 p4p, 503 weight class) and Zeke Zooralangui (ranked 24636 p4p, 508 weight class). Cross comes to the cage accompanied by Hey Man, Nice Shot. Zeke Zooralangui has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cross
vs
Zooralangui

170 cm
21
154 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

163 cm
23
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Napura Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeke Zooralangui!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zooralangui as he avoids it easily.
Zooralangui stuffs the takedown.
Zooralangui should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cross has a takedown stuffed.
Zooralangui doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napura Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross fails to land the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zooralangui.
A lull in the action here as Zooralangui stalls from top position.
Cross gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zooralangui is pressing down on Cross's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cross is holding on for now.

Zooralangui decides to stand and escape the position.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross shoots in for a double leg but Zooralangui sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Napura Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross swats away the attempt to clinch by Zooralangui.
Cross shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zooralangui pinned against the cage. Zooralangui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cross with a poor takedown

and Zooralangui counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Zooralangui is pressing down on Cross's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cross is holding on for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zooralangui lands a nice short elbow.
Zooralangui looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Zooralangui is working for a kimura but Cross is defending it quite comfortably.
Zooralangui working Cross over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cross looking for submissions off his back.

Cross looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cross tries to get to full guard but Zooralangui has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross is staying active underneath Zooralangui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Zooralangui there.
Cross is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zooralangui in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross punching from the bottom.
Zooralangui is looking to take a break and control but Cross is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Zooralangui is working for a kimura but Cross is defending it quite comfortably.
Zooralangui is trying to control the action in half guard but Cross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Cross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zooralangui pulls his head out easily.
Cross moves into full guard.
Zooralangui landing some decent shots from guard.
Zooralangui must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.

Zooralangui gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zooralangui sprawls well. Zooralangui wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cross gets slowly back to his feet.
Zooralangui now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zooralangui throws a series of punches but Cross moves out of range.
Cross throws a big counter combination but Zooralangui scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cross shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zooralangui pinned against the cage. Zooralangui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zooralangui throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.

Zooralangui throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cross tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zooralangui is in Cross's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Cross had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zooralangui defends it easily.
Zooralangui slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Zooralangui dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zooralangui.
Zooralangui slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It seemed like Zooralangui was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Zooralangui drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zooralangui really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zooralangui working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cross's head.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Zooralangui defends easily.

Cross is looking for a triangle but Zooralangui pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zooralangui cracks Cross with a solid left hand.
Zooralangui scoring with some ground and pound.

Cross working for a triangle but Zooralangui defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross striking off his back but it's not causing Zooralangui any problems.
Zooralangui has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zooralangui controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cross wants to sweep here but Zooralangui controlling him for the moment.
Zooralangui stands up over Cross, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zooralangui trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Zooralangui is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Cross has his feet on Zooralangui's thighs here. He's pushed Zooralangui off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Zooralangui screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Napura Cross!
Napura Cross seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.