PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Cross (ranked 25190 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Pereirinha (ranked 7845 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Cross
vs
Pereirinha

150 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steven Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matheus Pereirinha!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cross pushes Pereirinha up against the cage in a clinch.

Pereirinha is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cross can't fight it off and eventually Pereirinha manages to take the fight to the floor. Cross looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pereirinha trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross wants to stand and escape but Pereirinha is having none of it.

Pereirinha decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cross, up you get!
Pereirinha throws a head kick that misses.

Pereirinha moves into the clinch.
Cross tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cross can't find room to land a body shot as Pereirinha controls the action.

Pereirinha jumps into guard, dragging Cross to the mat.
Pereirinha is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
Cross throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pereirinha wants to sweep here but Cross controlling him for the moment.
Pereirinha wants to stand but Cross is controlling the position.
Cross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereirinha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Cross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pereirinha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cross throwing strikes but missing.
Cross is looking to work some ground and pound but Pereirinha has wrist control.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Pereirinha.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pereirinha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cross accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cross throwing strikes from guard but Pereirinha blocks nicely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cross throwing strikes but missing.
Pereirinha controls Cross momentarily but Cross frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

Pereirinha instigates a clinch.

Pereirinha manages to break the clinch.
Pereirinha pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Pereirinha gets a clinch.
Pereirinha is trying to pull guard but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Cross drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pereirinha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cross jumps guard but Pereirinha stands there with Cross around his waist. Cross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pereirinha avoiding damage as Cross throws knees to the body.
Pereirinha tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.
Pereirinha looking for a takedown.
Steven Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Pereirinha.
Pereirinha looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereirinha is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.

Pereirinha is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cross is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pereirinha to the mat. Pereirinha regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Pereirinha is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cross defends well.
Cross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pereirinha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cross with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cross accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cross is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Cross drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pereirinha looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pereirinha looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pereirinha!

Cross wants to control but Pereirinha postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pereirinha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pereirinha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cross is not content to let Pereirinha control the position.
Cross wants to control but Pereirinha postures up.
Pereirinha trying to control the position but Cross is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross wants to get back to his feet.
Pereirinha working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Pereirinha dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cross rushes Pereirinha and presses him up against the cage.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Pereirinha avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Cross prevents the takedown attempt.

Pereirinha manages to break the clinch.

Cross clinches.
Cross tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pereirinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pereirinha is trying to break free.
Pereirinha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cross.
Pereirinha is working for takedown but Cross is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereirinha is trying to break the clinch but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Cross jumps guard but Pereirinha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pereirinha jumps guard but Cross turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stalling in the clinch from Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries a body shot but Pereirinha blocks it.

Cross has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pereirinha uses from the top position.
Cross working a defensive guard but Pereirinha passes into half guard.
Cross is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Pereirinha manages to mount him!

Cross bucks up and throws Pereirinha to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Cross rushes Pereirinha and presses him up against the cage.

Cross gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pereirinha tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereirinha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cross is thwarting Pereirinha's attempts to control the position.
Pereirinha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cross throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pereirinha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cross throwing shots but Pereirinha is blocking nicely.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cross throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereirinha has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cross is working away from the top position though.
Cross looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pereirinha with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pereirinha is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cross prevents Pereirinha from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cross rushes Pereirinha and presses him up against the cage.

Cross gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Pereirinha preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cross throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cross scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pereirinha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pereirinha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pereirinha is trying to maintain the position but Cross is very close to passing his half guard.
Cross is just content to waste time from the top position. Pereirinha takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pereirinha is pulling down on Cross's head to control his posture.
Cross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Pereirinha.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Cross dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Pereirinha swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Matheus Pereirinha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pereirinha clinches.
Cross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pereirinha's elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Pereirinha.

Cross lands a takedown into guard.
Cross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pereirinha 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereirinha controls Cross momentarily but Cross frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pereirinha has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cross off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Pereirinha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pereirinha with a poor takedown
and Cross counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Pereirinha clinches up against the cage.
Pereirinha prevents the takedown attempt.

Cross has hold of one of Pereirinha's legs. Pereirinha is fighting the takedown attempt but Cross gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Pereirinha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steven Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cross distracts Pereirinha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cross lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cross makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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 makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Cross got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pereirinha has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cross has managed to get both his arms back between Pereirinha's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereirinha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pereirinha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cross works over Pereirinha with some ground and pound from guard.
Cross has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cross is in close to Pereirinha's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cross cracks Pereirinha with a solid left hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cross accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pereirinha working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Cross. Those never looked like landing.

Cross has Pereirinha up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereirinha managing to block the knees to the body from Cross.
Steven Cross has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cross fails to pull guard.
Cross tries to pull guard but Pereirinha holds him up against the cage and eventually Cross drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pereirinha is trying to trip Cross. He has hold of a leg but Cross is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Pereirinha persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Cross pushes Pereirinha off and gets back to his feet.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pereirinha can do to turn this around?
No luck for Pereirinha with that takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pereirinha.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pereirinha fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cross, pushing him back against the cage.
Pereirinha is trying to stall.
Cross landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Cross manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cross is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The referee calls for Cross to work.
Cross tries to pull guard but Pereirinha holds him up against the cage and eventually Cross drops back down to his feet.

Pereirinha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pereirinha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cross is looking to counter the offense by Pereirinha and move into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cross has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

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