PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Noman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Cro Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Noman
vs
Cro Cop

194 cm
18
248 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Noman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Cro Cop!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cro Cop closes this distance looking for a takedown but Noman circles away.
Cro Cop showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Noman.
Noman misses with a takedown

and Cro Cop counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cro Cop.

Noman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cro Cop defends well.
Noman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Noman wants to stand but Cro Cop is controlling the position.
Noman wants to sweep but no luck.
Cro Cop tries to free his leg and advance position but Noman is retaining full guard.
Noman controls Cro Cop momentarily but Cro Cop frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noman manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cro Cop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noman manages to avoid it.
Mirko Cro Cop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noman shoots in for a double leg but Cro Cop sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jab from Noman.
Cro Cop fails with the takedown.
Cro Cop throws a head kick that half lands.
Noman is breathing heavily.

Cro Cop pushes Noman up against the cage in a clinch.
Noman is looking to break free of the clinch but Cro Cop has double underhooks.
Noman is trying to drag Cro Cop to the mat but Cro Cop just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Noman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cro Cop stops a takedown attempt from Noman.

Cro Cop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cro Cop tries to clinch up.
Cro Cop dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Noman. That did some damage!
Cro Cop throws a head kick that Noman semi-blocks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cro Cop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cro Cop connects with a body shot.
Cro Cop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Noman is fending him off so far but Cro Cop persists. Nope, Noman circles away and we're back to standing.
Noman drops his hands momentarily and Cro Cop takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cro Cop tries for a takedown but Noman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cro Cop shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Noman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cro Cop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Cro Cop stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Cro Cop is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Noman's half guard.
Noman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cro Cop's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cro Cop's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cro Cop is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Noman lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Noman has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Cro Cop.

Cro Cop fending off the submission attempt from Noman.
A lull in the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noman connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Cro Cop to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Cro Cop dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cro Cop has Noman up against the cage in a clinch.
Noman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cro Cop pulls his leg out and moves away.
Noman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cro Cop circles away quickly and effectively.
Cro Cop closes the distance and clinches up with Noman, looking for a takedown. Cro Cop pushes Noman against the cage but Noman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cro Cop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cro Cop fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cro Cop scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cro Cop throws a head kick but Noman moves out of range.
Cro Cop connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Cro Cop rushes Noman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cro Cop is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Noman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Alex Noman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Cro Cop.
Cro Cop landing knees to the head.
Noman is trying to force a seperation but Cro Cop has the dominant position.
Noman stops a takedown attempt from Cro Cop.

Noman breaks the clinch.
Noman throws a head kick that misses

and Cro Cop counters with a shoot takedown. Noman fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cro Cop postures up.

Cro Cop stands and steps away. Noman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cro Cop is trying hard to land a takedown here. Noman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Noman.
Noman moves in looking to clinch but Cro Cop pushes him off.
Cro Cop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cro Cop shoots in looking for a takedown. Noman tries to sprawl out of it but Cro Cop keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Noman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cro Cop looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noman punching from the bottom.
Cro Cop is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cro Cop prevents Noman from improving his position.

Noman is defending against the submission attempts here by Cro Cop.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cro Cop stops Noman from getting back to his feet.

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.
Cro Cop content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Noman wants to improve his position but Cro Cop is controlling well.
Mirko Cro Cop has got the better of the ground game so far.
Noman is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Cro Cop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cro Cop has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cro Cop is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Noman can't break the clinch.
Cro Cop can't get the takedown.
Noman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Noman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cro Cop has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cro Cop wants a takedown.
Noman is trying to maintain a safe position but Cro Cop gets an underhook and turns Noman into the cage.
Noman tries to break the clinch but Cro Cop is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cro Cop pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cro Cop tries to score a body lock takedown but Noman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alex Noman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Cro Cop.

Cro Cop manages to break the clinch.
Cro Cop chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Noman can pounce on him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cro Cop is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cro Cop dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Noman. That did some damage!
Cro Cop shoots in looking for a takedown. Noman tries to sprawl out of it but Cro Cop keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Noman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Noman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cro Cop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Noman is fending him off so far but Cro Cop persists. Nope, Noman circles away and we're back to standing.
Cro Cop tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Noman swivels and escapes.

That's two 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.
Cro Cop shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Noman as he jumps to the side.

Cro Cop closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Noman to the mat! Noman manages to get full guard.
Noman has his hands on Cro Cop's head, controlling the position.
Cro Cop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noman is keeping the position for now.
Noman keeping moving, preventing Cro Cop from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cro Cop stopping the sweep attempt from Noman.
Cro Cop controlling from the top position.
Noman looking for a sweep. Not yet Noman, not yet.
Cro Cop sitting in guard here, content to control.

Noman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cro Cop defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cro Cop throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cro Cop doesn't manage to clinch there - Noman circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cro Cop slips a jab and a cross from Noman.
Cro Cop fails with a takedown attempt.
Alex Noman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mirko Cro Cop is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cro Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Cro Cop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cro Cop 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Cro Cop!