PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Farris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Farris
vs
Cross

180 cm
24
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Farris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Cross!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Farris drives through and clinches with Cross against the cage.
Farris is trying to force a seperation but Cross has the dominant position.
Cross with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Farris is trying to push Cross away but Cross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cross landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cross scores with a knee to the head.
Farris is looking to break free of the clinch but Cross has double underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cross obliges.
Cross putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Farris in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Farris is breathing heavily.
Farris takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cross with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cross with a knee to the head.
Cross connects with a knee to the head.
Cross stalling in the clinch but Farris improves position.
Cross landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cross lands an elbow inside.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but Farris blocks with his arms.
Cross connects with a nasty looking knee right to Farris's face.
Cross taking a breather.
Cross lands a nice elbow.
Farris taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farris tries to break free but Cross pushes him back against the cage.
Cross connects with a nasty looking knee right to Farris's face.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.
Cross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Farris's efforts to push away.
Farris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Cross lands an elbow that stopped Farris in his tracks for a moment.
Cross lands a knee to the head.
Farris tries to break free but Cross pushes him back against the cage.
Farris tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Farris is trying to break free.
Farris is looking for a takedown.
Cross has Farris pressed against the cage, preventing Farris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cross prevents Farris from breaking the clinch.
Cross connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jim Farris has been cut.
Cross connects with a nasty looking knee right to Farris's face.
Farris wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Farris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cross obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross taking a breather.
Cross with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
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!
A knee to the head by Cross.
Cross trying to control the position but instead, Farris has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cross into the cage.
A knee to the head by Cross.
Cross misses with a knee to the head.
Farris is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cross using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Farris has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cross lands a knee to the head.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.
Cross is trying to stall.
Cross landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Farris has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Farris scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Farris tries to break the clinch but Cross is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farris avoiding damage as Cross throws knees to the body.
Farris wants to get back to striking at distance but Cross won't allow it.
Cross lands a knee to the head.
Cross has Farris pressed against the cage, preventing Farris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cross misses with a knee to the head.
Cross looking to throw knees to the head but Farris is blocking nicely.
Cross tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Farris as Cross tries to tie him up.
A frustrated look appears on Farris's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Farris wants to get back to striking at distance but Cross won't allow it.
Cross crunches a lovely knee into Farris's ribcage.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.
Farris is working for takedown but Cross is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Farris looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross scores a nice knee to the body.
Farris takes an elbow to the forehead.
Farris wants to break free but Cross has control.
Cross taking a breather.
Farris wants to break the clinch but can't.
Farris takes a knee right on the jaw!
Farris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cross missing with knees to the body.
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 tries to stall but Farris uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Farris has had enough of the clinch but Cross keeps him there for the moment.
Cross landing knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Farris's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Farris has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Farris wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cross taking a breather.
Farris is looking to break free of the clinch but Cross has double underhooks.

Farris drags the fight down to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Cross dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Farris'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.

Cross staying out of range there.

Farris closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Farris is trying to break free.
Cross landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cross trying to stall but Farris improves his position.
Farris wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cross taking a breather.
Cross lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Farris lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cross backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cross.
Cross trying to control the position but instead, Farris has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cross into the cage.
Farris has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cross has Farris pressed against the cage, preventing Farris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farris trying to stall but Cross improves his position.
Farris is working for takedown but Cross is calmly controlling the position for now.
Farris wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cross has him pressed against the cage.

Farris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Damien Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farris.
Jim Farris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Farris keeps the fight on the outside.
A swing and a miss from Farris.
Cross is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Farris.
Cross is looking to clinch.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Farris.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Farris swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Farris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Damien Cross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cross tries to clinch but Farris is having none of it.
Farris scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cross misses with an uppercut. Farris saw that one coming.
Cross darts in trying to clinch

and Farris counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Farris.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A knee to the head by Cross.
Cross connects with a knee to the head.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Cross is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cross throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cross lands a knee to the body.
Cross has Farris pressed against the cage, preventing Farris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Farris tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the cage.
Damien Cross seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Farris wants to break the clinch but can't.
Farris is trying to push Cross away but Cross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Farris is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Cross's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Cross is trying to stall.
Cross is pressed up against the cage. Farris has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cross down to the mat. Cross avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Farris rushes Cross and presses him up against the cage.
Cross putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Farris in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Farris is looking to break free of the clinch but Cross has double underhooks.
Farris wants to break the clinch but can't.
Farris wants to break free but Cross has control.
Cross scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Cross.
Farris wants to get back to striking at distance but Cross won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Farris fails to land.
Farris is trying to break free.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Farris working hard to break the clinch.
Farris tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the cage.
Cross unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cross is trying to stall.
Farris is trying to force a seperation but Cross has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Farris tries to stall but Cross uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross scores with a knee to the head.
Cross stalling in the clinch but Farris improves position.
Cross scores a nice knee to the body.
Cross stops a takedown attempt from Farris.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Farris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross lands a good knee to the midsection. Farris won't want to take too many of those.
Cross landing knees to the head.
Cross scores with a knee to the head.
Farris can't break the clinch.
Farris is trying to force a seperation but Cross has the dominant position.
Farris goes for a takedown attempt but Cross pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Farris keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Farris instigates a clinch.
Farris wants to get back to striking at distance but Cross won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Damien Cross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jim Farris's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Farris paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Farris moves into the clinch.
Cross with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Farris is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cross pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cross taking a breather.

Farris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Farris lands a nice shot that snaps Cross's head back.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Farris swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Farris throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cross is looking to clinch but Farris is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Farris throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Farris manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Farris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross throws out a loose jab but Farris uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross tries to score with a low kick but Farris moves his leg out of the way.
Farris misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Farris circles away.
Cross uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Farris.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Farris.

Farris moves into the clinch.
Farris is trying to force a seperation but Cross has the dominant position.
Cross looking to slow down the pace here.
Farris lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cross tries to stall but Farris uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Farris has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cross is trying to stall.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but Farris blocks with his arms.
Cross is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Farris avoids a wild elbow strike from Cross.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to clinch.
Farris shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cross as he avoids it easily.
Farris swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Donk. Farris catches Cross right on the button with a cross.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Farris is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Farris throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cross on the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Farris has managed to clinch.
Farris tries to break the clinch but Cross is controlling the position.
Farris wants to break free but Cross has control.
Cross trying to stall but Farris improves his position.
Farris tries to pull guard but Cross holds him up against the cage and eventually Farris drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Farris. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cross misses with a knee to the head.
Farris tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the cage.
Farris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cross is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Farris is trying to break the clinch but Cross is controlling him.
Cross tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cross is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cross looking to throw knees to the head but Farris is blocking nicely.
Farris is looking to break free of the clinch but Cross has double underhooks.
Cross scores with a knee to the head.
Farris jumps guard but Cross turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross has Farris pressed against the cage, preventing Farris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Farris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Farris lands a body punch.
Farris tries to land a knee to the head but Cross blocks with his arms.
Cross with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Farris has had enough of the clinch but Cross keeps him there for the moment.
Farris tries to break the clinch but Cross is controlling the position.
Cross trying to control the position but instead, Farris has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cross into the cage.
Cross throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Farris blocks it with crossed arms.
Farris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cross trying to stall but Farris improves his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Farris wants to break free but Cross has control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farris tries to break the clinch but Cross is controlling the position.
Farris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Farris wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Farris showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cross has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight for Damien Cross!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Damien Cross!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Damien Cross!

Damien Cross wins by unanimous decision!