PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Terry Cross (ranked 24719 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amir Aliakbari (ranked 3746 p4p, 0 weight class). Terry Cross has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cross
vs
Aliakbari

200 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Terry Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Amir Aliakbari!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross misses with the body kick

and Aliakbari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cross wants to sweep here but Aliakbari controlling him for the moment.
Cross will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Aliakbari wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cross doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Aliakbari won't allow Cross to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross keeping full guard, as Aliakbari tries to pass.
Cross is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aliakbari is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliakbari trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Aliakbari closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cross did well to prevent Aliakbari getting side control.
Cross is looking to improve his position.
Cross keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Aliakbari seems content to control.
Aliakbari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cross keeps working.
Cross manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliakbari trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Aliakbari stops Cross from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aliakbari is one step ahead there.
Aliakbari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aliakbari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cross is staying active underneath Aliakbari, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cross trying to control from the bottom.
Aliakbari wants to control but Cross is keeping him busy.
Cross wants to improve his position but Aliakbari is controlling well.
We've been informed that Aliakbari has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cross is working hard here to advance position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aliakbari gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Aliakbari drives through with a takedown into Cross's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Aliakbari postures up and lands a big shot to Cross's brow.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Aliakbari from controlling successfully.
Cross pulls Aliakbari in close to his closed guard and prevents Aliakbari from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aliakbari trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Aliakbari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Aliakbari.
Cross seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Aliakbari throws a head kick but Cross moves out of range.
Aliakbari tries to clinch up.
Terry Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cross closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aliakbari quickly recovers to half guard.

Aliakbari kicks off Cross and gets to his feet.

Aliakbari closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cross did well to prevent Aliakbari getting side control.
Cross tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Aliakbari manages to move to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Amir Aliakbari has got the better of the ground game so far.

Aliakbari stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Cross misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aliakbari shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Aliakbari is breathing heavily.
Aliakbari looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aliakbari looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cross with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Aliakbari stands up and beckons Cross to join him on the feet.
Aliakbari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Aliakbari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cross to the mat! Cross manages to get full guard.
Aliakbari forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to control but Aliakbari is keeping busy.

Aliakbari is working for a kimura but Cross is defending it quite comfortably.
Cross moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cross wants to improve his position but instead Aliakbari has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is not content to let Aliakbari control the position.
Aliakbari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Aliakbari is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cross gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aliakbari wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
Cross wants to get back to his feet but Aliakbari passes into half guard.
Aliakbari 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.
Aliakbari throwing shots but Cross is blocking nicely.
Cross slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aliakbari sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Aliakbari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cross takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cross throws a lazy body kick

and Aliakbari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cross won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aliakbari's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Aliakbari stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wants to get back to his feet.
Cross wants to stand back up but Aliakbari manages to pass into side control.
Cross is looking to regain half guard here but Aliakbari keeps moving and retains side control.
Aliakbari wants to control for a moment but Cross uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aliakbari controlling the pace.
Cross wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aliakbari postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cross to stand up.

Aliakbari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cross was covering up waiting for the punch and Aliakbari finishes the takedown easily into guard.

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.
Cross is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Aliakbari breaks the clinch.
Cross tries to land a body kick

and Aliakbari counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliakbari looking to pass the guard.
Cross has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Cross kicks Aliakbari off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Amir Aliakbari.
Well Aliakbari 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amir Aliakbari!