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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Cross (ranked 4542 p4p, 480 weight class) and Jeff Johnson (ranked 4202 p4p, 458 weight class). Jeff Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tanner Cross's chin.
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| 180 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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183 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Fast |
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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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanner Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Cross ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cross gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanner Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson scores with a decent looking hook.
Cross fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnson sprawls well initially but Cross persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Cross wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Cross is controlling him
Cross trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Cross slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Cross stalling.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Cross content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Cross sits in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Cross is controlling him well.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cross looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cross is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cross has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cross wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is trying to escape the position but Cross is controlling the position.
Johnson is trying to buck Cross off.
Cross throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Cross trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cross is controlling him well.
Cross looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Cross wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cross controls the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson pushes Cross away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cross gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cross. Cross gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanner Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson cracks Cross with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cross takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cross's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A nice side step and Johnson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cross dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Cross isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson wants to stand up but Cross is controlling him.
Cross seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Tanner Cross will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Cross uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cross.
Cross looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cross tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnson enables Cross to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Cross is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Cross passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cross seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson pushes Cross off looking to stand but Cross dives back in and keeps control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cross is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cross works his way into side control.
Johnson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cross is controlling him well.
Cross tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cross trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face as Cross controls the position.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Cross wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cross trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Cross lands a decent elbow from side control.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Cross looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cross has hold of Johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Cross landing strikes from the mount and Johnson is in trouble!
Johnson tries to buck Cross off but he can't manage it.
Cross tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Cross with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cross controlling his opponent.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Cross takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cross can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Cross looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson really wants to buck Cross off and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross content just to control the position here.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tanner Cross dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Cross scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cross wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Cross is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Johnson is looking to escape.
Cross is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Cross avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Cross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross prevents Johnson from escaping the position.
Cross moves into full mount!
Cross unloading with bombs!
Cross with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Cross landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cross controlling the pace for now.
Cross moves to the back.
Johnson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Cross off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Cross.
Cross gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Cross's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Johnson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cross's arms.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
Cross is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Cross looking for the choke from the back.
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 looking for the RNC.
Cross is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross looking for the RNC.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Cross is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Tanner Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Cross slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Tanner Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Cross has good solid back control here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tanner Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cross, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanner Cross!
During a confident post fight interview, Tanner Cross thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
35% |
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