PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Butch Coolidge (ranked 3607 p4p, 408 weight class) and Green Cross (ranked 2213 p4p, 279 weight class). Coolidge's entrance music is twenty one pilots - Stressed Out. A fine choice. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Coolidge
vs
Cross

184 cm
27
180 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Butch Coolidge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Green Cross!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross moves out of range of the strikes.

Cross pushes Coolidge up against the cage in a clinch.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.
Coolidge scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Coolidge keeps the fight on the outside.
Coolidge misses with a looping left.
Butch Coolidge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Coolidge just misses with a punch to the body.
Cross moves away from the strike by Coolidge.
A combination from Coolidge does no damage.
Cross moves away from the strike by Coolidge.
Cross wants to clinch up but Coolidge keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Coolidge misses the target.
Coolidge backing away here, and Cross unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Coolidge throws a hook but Cross blocks it.
Cross wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.
Coolidge appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Coolidge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cross tries to clinch there but Coolidge circles away.
Coolidge throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Coolidge.

Cross moves into the clinch.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.

Cross clinches up with Coolidge and pushes him back against the cage.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.
Cross tries to clinch but Coolidge moves away
letting Coolidge counter with a right hand.

Cross has taken the fight to the clinch.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Coolidge swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.

Coolidge gets tackled into the cage by Cross. Cross maintains the clinch.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Coolidge throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
Coolidge throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Coolidge throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cross swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Cross has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.
Coolidge swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coolidge lunges at Cross with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cross's hand.
Cross tries to clinch but Coolidge is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Coolidge gets tackled into the cage by Cross. Cross maintains the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.

Cross gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Coolidge blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.
Coolidge scores with a jab.
Coolidge looks to throw the jab but Cross is out of range.
Coolidge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coolidge throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
Cross lands a jab to the head.

Cross has closed the distance and engaged Coolidge in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Coolidge is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cross.

Coolidge tries to keep at a distance but Cross has taken the fight into the clinch.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
Cross slips a jab from Coolidge.
Cross's coach down at Holding Cell was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cross's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross slips under a jab.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Coolidge circles away.
Coolidge throws a big shot that misses.
Coolidge throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
Coolidge is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Coolidge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Coolidge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Cross clinches.
Cross working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Coolidge misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Coolidge moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross tries to clinch there but Coolidge circles away.
Coolidge misses with a right hand
and Cross counters with a nice body shot.
Coolidge misses with a hook

and Cross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cross swings wildly with an uppercut but Coolidge uses good head movement to avoid it.
Coolidge tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cross moves into the clinch successfully.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Coolidge misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Coolidge dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cross takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cross wants to clinch up but Coolidge keeps it at a distance.

Cross darts in and clinches Coolidge up against the cage.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cross clinches up with Coolidge and pushes him back against the cage.
Coolidge prevents a body shot from Cross.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Coolidge throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coolidge fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.
Cross now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Cross uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Coolidge.
Coolidge looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Coolidge has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Cross rushes Coolidge and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Green Cross seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coolidge throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Cross tries to clinch there but Coolidge circles away.
Cross slips a jab from Coolidge.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Coolidge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Coolidge circles away.
Coolidge swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cross moves away from the strike by Coolidge.
Cross moves away from the strike by Coolidge.
Cross tries to clinch up but Coolidge circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters circling - Coolidge throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Coolidge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Coolidge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Coolidge wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Coolidge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Coolidge pushes him off.
Coolidge throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
Coolidge missing with a left hand there. Cross was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Coolidge throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Coolidge is looking to counter punch.
Cross tries to clinch but Coolidge is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cross takes the fight into the clinch.
Cross is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Coolidge gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A right handed body shot lands from Cross.

Coolidge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Coolidge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Coolidge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cross.

Coolidge tries to keep at a distance but Cross has taken the fight into the clinch.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cross closes the distance and pushes Coolidge back into the cage.
Cross works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
Coolidge throws out a loose jab but Cross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cross moves out of range of the strikes.

Cross takes the fight into the clinch.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cross closes the distance and clinches.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
A big right from Coolidge misses.

Cross has Coolidge up against the cage in a clinch.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross tries to clinch but Coolidge is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Coolidge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cross wants to clinch.
It looked like Coolidge wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.

Cross rushes Coolidge and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Coolidge.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cross displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Coolidge throws out the jab.

Cross has closed the distance and engaged Coolidge in a clinch.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Coolidge pushes him off.
Coolidge is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cross can do to turn this around?
Cross tries to clinch up but Coolidge circles away and keeps his distance.
Coolidge getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
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 displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Coolidge throws out the jab.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Coolidge clobbers Cross with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A combination from Coolidge does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cross rushes Coolidge and presses him up against the cage.
Cross wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Coolidge dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cross tries to clinch up but Coolidge circles away and keeps his distance.

Cross closes the distance and clinches.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.

Coolidge tries to keep at a distance but Cross has taken the fight into the clinch.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.
Cross tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Coolidge was well out of range. Poor timing from Cross.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Coolidge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Coolidge swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Coolidge misses with an uppercut. Cross saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Cross.
Coolidge throws a body punch but Cross moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Cross.
Cross is looking to clinch.
Coolidge misses with an uppercut. Cross saw that one coming.
Cross is looking for the big counter here.
Coolidge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cross.
Coolidge throws a hook but Cross avoids it easily.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coolidge throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Coolidge throws a hook but Cross avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.
A big left from Coolidge misses.
Cross uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Coolidge.
Coolidge keeps the fight on the outside.
Coolidge misses with a straight right.
A swing and a miss from Coolidge.
Cross appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Coolidge on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Butch Coolidge has been cut.
Cross wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Coolidge throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cross looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Cross forces Coolidge back against the cage and clinches.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Coolidge. That snapped Cross's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Coolidge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Coolidge.
Coolidge misses the body punch
and Cross counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Coolidge looks to throw the jab but Cross is out of range.
Cross tries to clinch there but Coolidge circles away.

Cross has managed to clinch.
Cross misses with a hook to the ribs.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.
Cross moves out of range as Coolidge strikes.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Coolidge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Coolidge misses its target.
Coolidge swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Coolidge misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cross lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Coolidge backwards.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Coolidge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.

Cross has managed to clinch.

Coolidge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cross clinches up with Coolidge and pushes him back against the cage.
Cross lands a body punch.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
A big right from Coolidge misses.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Coolidge misses with a looping right.

Cross has Coolidge up against the cage in a clinch.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Coolidge misses.
Cross moves out of range as Coolidge strikes.
Butch Coolidge is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross takes a swing at Coolidge's ribcage but misses.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Coolidge pushes him off.
A swing and a miss from Coolidge.

Cross fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Coolidge, pushing him back against the cage.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
Coolidge throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cross sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Coolidge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Cross moves into range and clinches up with Coolidge.
Cross tries a body shot but Coolidge blocks it.

Coolidge manages to break the clinch.
Coolidge swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Donk. Cross catches Coolidge right on the button with a cross.

Cross takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Butch Coolidge did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Butch Coolidge's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cross has taken the fight to the clinch.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross throws a looping overhand right but Coolidge ducks down to avoid it.
Coolidge ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Coolidge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Coolidge circles away.

Cross forces Coolidge back against the cage and clinches.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
Coolidge fails to land with a series of punches.

Cross clinches.

Coolidge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coolidge misses with a looping left.
A little jabbing left from Cross on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Cross fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Coolidge, pushing him back against the cage.

Coolidge breaks the clinch.

Cross closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cross creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Coolidge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coolidge throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Coolidge throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Coolidge misses with a lunging right hand
and Cross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Coolidge takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Coolidge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Coolidge wants to land a leg kick but Cross is out of range.
Coolidge throws a right hand that misses
and Cross counters with a left to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cross scores with a nice right hand.
Cross works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Cross rushes Coolidge and presses him up against the cage.
Cross lands an uppercut.
Coolidge is trying to push Cross away but Cross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Coolidge tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the cage.

Coolidge breaks from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cross pushes Coolidge up against the cage in a clinch.
Cross fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coolidge tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the cage.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Coolidge avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.

Coolidge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cross moves out of range as Coolidge strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cross moves into range and clinches up with Coolidge.
Coolidge blocks an uppercut.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Coolidge with a hook.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Coolidge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Coolidge misses with a lunging right hand
and Cross counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Coolidge misses with a straight left.
Coolidge backing away here, and Cross unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Coolidge rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cross makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Coolidge looks to land a right hand but Cross moved out of range.

Cross fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Coolidge, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross pushes Coolidge back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Coolidge is looking to control Cross's arms but Cross gets an underhook and turns him. Now Coolidge has his back to the cage.
A shot in the inside from Cross.
Cross scores with a hook to the body.
Cross lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cross tries to work over Coolidge's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cross lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Coolidge backwards.

Cross manages to break the clinch.
Coolidge misses with an uppercut. Cross saw that one coming.
Coolidge keeps the fight on the outside.
Coolidge misses with a right hand
and Cross counters with a nice uppercut.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Coolidge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Coolidge swinging wildly here.
Cross lands a right hook to the body.
Cross wants to clinch up but Coolidge keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch but Coolidge moves out of range.
Cross digs a good body shot into Coolidge's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross is looking to clinch but Coolidge is avoiding it.

Cross takes the fight into the clinch.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Coolidge keeps the fight on the outside.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cross connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Coolidge momentarily.

Cross clinches with his opponent.
Cross lands a right hand that snaps the head of Coolidge backwards.

Coolidge escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Coolidge pushes him off.
Cross cracks Coolidge with an open hand slap.

Coolidge is rocked!

Cross has managed to clinch.
Oh Coolidge is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cross blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross lands with a right to the head.
Cross cracks Coolidge with a nice body shot.
Cross avoiding damage.

Coolidge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Green Cross dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Butch Coolidge's cut.
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!

Coolidge misses with a combination
and Cross counters with a big right hand! Oh Coolidge is in trouble here! Cross follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Green Cross!
During a confident post fight interview, Green Cross thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.