PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roger Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hi Pitch Mike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Roger Cross has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cross
vs
Pitch Mike

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
148 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Tesla Apparel [Everything $15]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roger Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hi Pitch Mike!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mike scores a takedown into full mount!
Mike thowing shots but they're missing.
Cross holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mike tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cross tries to reverse the position but Mike maintains control.
Mike looking to finish Cross with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cross!
Mike looking to finish with strikes here!
Mike throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Mike there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mike thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cross blocking the ground and pound.
Mike misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Cross is in a horrible position here. Mike smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mike throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mike lands a heavy elbow.
Cross wants to control but Mike is having none of it.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mike misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mike misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cross holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mike tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mike thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Cross blocking the ground and pound.
Cross is looking to improve his position but Mike isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mike thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mike thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Mike looks gassed!
Mike throwing strikes here but Cross is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike thowing shots but they're missing.
Mike misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cross blocking the ground and pound.
Mike unloads with some shots from mount but Cross bucks and avoids them well.
Mike thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mike looking to finish with strikes here!
Cross holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mike tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mike is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mike throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

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.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Cross'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 tries to hold on but Mike postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hi Pitch Mike dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mike shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mike was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cross keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mike throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cross because Mike loaded up on that one.
Mike looking to finish with strikes here!
Mike throws some wild stikes that Cross manages to avoid easily.
Mike has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cross is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mike thowing shots but they're missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Mike thowing shots but they're missing.
Mike lands a nice shot to the head.
Mike thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cross wants to get back to his feet.
Mike throws some wild stikes that Cross manages to avoid easily.

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.
Mike throws some wild stikes that Cross manages to avoid easily.
Mike thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mike throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Mike looking to finish with strikes here!
Cross is in a horrible position here. Mike smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is desperately trying to improve his position but Mike has a good base and remains in mount.
Cross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mike on the ground.
Mike looking to finish Cross with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cross!
Mike in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mike throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mike punching from mount but Cross doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cross is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mike unloads with some shots from mount but Cross bucks and avoids them well.
Mike throws some wild stikes that Cross manages to avoid easily.
Cross avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mike.
Mike fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mike misses with a head shot.
Mike throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cross because Mike loaded up on that one.
Mike unloads with some shots from mount but Cross bucks and avoids them well.
Cross wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mike.
Mike unloads with some shots from mount but Cross bucks and avoids them well.
Cross regains half guard.
Mike not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hi Pitch Mike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cross changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mike tries to avoid it but Cross manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mike to the ground. Mike escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Mike moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Cross.
Mike fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cross blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mike has Cross pushed against the cage.
Mike gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cross.
Mike lands with a short shot to the head.
Mike lands a left hand.
Cross blocking some punches.
Cross tries to pull guard but Mike holds him up against the cage and eventually Cross drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mike softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Mike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cross.
Mike has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cross avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cross has had enough of the clinch but Mike keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Cross.
Cross tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short right from Mike on the inside.
Mike misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mike pulls guard effortlessly.
Cross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cross lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mike striking off his back but it's not causing Cross any problems.
Cross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mike manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Mike fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cross sprawls well initially but Mike persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mike not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mike throwing shots but Cross is blocking nicely.
Cross blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mike.
Cross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mike.
Mike thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cross's head.
Mike missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mike lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mike.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick from Cross lands but Mike takes it in his stride.

Mike drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mike looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cross is avoiding damage well.
Mike throws a strike aimed at the side of Cross's head but Cross avoids it well.
Cross is looking to reverse the position.
Mike scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cross to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mike lands an elbow.
Cross managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mike.
Mike throws an elbow but Cross slips to the side and avoids it well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mike is looking to clinch.
Cross keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Roger Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mike.
Mike working the ground and pound.
Mike throws a strike aimed at the side of Cross's head but Cross avoids it well.
Cross parries the strikes from Mike easily there. Mike is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cross to escape.
Hi Pitch Mike is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to buck Mike off but Mike is having none of it.
Mike throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Cross's face as Mike controls the position.
Cross is looking for a sweep.
Mike controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roger Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hi Pitch Mike comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mike winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hi Pitch Mike!