PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Cross (ranked 24544 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jojo Hilver (ranked 5478 p4p, 0 weight class). Jojo Hilver has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steven Cross's chin.

Cross
vs
Hilver

150 cm
20
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

200 cm
20
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jojo Hilver!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hilver misses with a series of wild punches.

Cross rushes Hilver and presses him up against the cage.
Cross tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hilver just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hilver breaks from the clinch.

Cross darts in and clinches Hilver up against the cage.
Cross throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hilver wants to break free but Cross has control.
Hilver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cross prevents it.
Cross fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross tries to pull guard but Hilver won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hilver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hilver scores with a push kick.

Cross rushes Hilver and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilver is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hilver with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Steven Cross has been cut.

Hilver manages to break the clinch.

Hilver takes the fight into the clinch.
Cross tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hilver avoids it.
Cross really is a fat lump.

Hilver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hilver shoots for a double leg takedown but Cross sprawls well. He's pushed Hilver's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hilver misses with a double jab

and Cross counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hilver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cross is working away from the top position though.
Hilver tries to roll over but Cross keeps him under control.
Cross lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilver desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Cross thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hilver's head.

Cross is looking for a kimura but Hilver is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cross to get the leverage.
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 working over Hilver with some ground and pound. Hilver looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hilver is trying to maintain the position but Cross is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hilver tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
Hilver looks winded!
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilver trying to control but Cross postures up.
Cross not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cross prevents Hilver from improving his position.
Cross has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nice strikes from Cross there.
Cross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hilver keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hilver is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cross scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cross throwing shots but Hilver is blocking nicely.
Hilver tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
Cross working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Cross has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hilver defend it? Cross steps over the head and cranks it - Hilver is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Cross!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Steven Cross!