PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Cross (ranked 4683 p4p, 2327 weight class) and Tom Durant (ranked 488 p4p, 290 weight class). Cross comes to the cage accompanied by Irregular God. This should be fireworks!

Cross
vs
Durant

185 cm
25
257
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
23
245
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Durant!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Durant throws a leg kick that is checked

and Cross counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cross seems to be looking for submissions.
Durant gets back to full guard.
Cross stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cross passes Durant's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durant is concentrating on defense, preventing Cross from advancing position.

Cross is trying to work for a kimura but Durant is defending well.
Durant won't allow Cross to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durant has one foot on Cross's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Durant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Cross on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Durant stuffs the takedown attempt from Cross. Cross gets slowly back to his feet.
Cross closes the distance and clinches up with Durant, looking for a takedown. Cross pushes Durant against the cage but Durant circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but Durant shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cross has been working on his balance at Tycoon Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Durant.
Cross throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Durant's waist but Durant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cross off to one side.
Durant misses with a two punch combination.
Durant lands a jab to the head.
Cross chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Durant can pounce on him.
Cross takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cross is breathing heavily.
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!
Durant connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Simon Cross has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Durant. Those never looked like landing.
Cross half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Durant drops Cross with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Cross looks back up at him and smiles so Durant waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Cross is rocked!
Durant drops a shoulder and throws a monster hook that connects perfectly to the side of Cross's head, knocking him out cold! Durant is extatic as he celebrates with his cornermen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tom Durant!
After winning the bout, Tom Durant thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.