PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Henry (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.

Cross
vs
Henry

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Henry!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cross shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Henry napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Henry takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Henry isn't going anywhere.
Henry gets back to half guard.
Cross thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cross really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cross is nestled in close to Henry, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cross looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Henry with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cross tries to pass to full mount but Henry defends it.
Henry avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cross.
Cross passes the guard and advances to mount!
Henry is in a horrible position here. Cross smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Henry avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry is desperately trying to improve his position but Cross has a good base and remains in mount.
Henry is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cross connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cross 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 scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Henry?
Henry regains half guard.

Henry makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Henry with a poor takedown

and Cross counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Henry looks gassed!
Cross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henry preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henry is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
Henry is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cross postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Henry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Cross wants to pass the guard but Henry is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henry shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cross counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Henry is looking to control Cross's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henry avoid being mounted?
Cross trying to pass the guard but Henry defending well.
Henry taking some punishment here, with Cross in his half guard.
Henry regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cross.
Henry preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Henry closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cross to the mat! Cross manages to get full guard.
Henry postures up in Cross's guard and throws a big left but Cross blocks it.
Cross on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cross tries to get out of the position.
Henry wants to stand but Cross is controlling his posture from full guard.
Henry preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cross dominated that round.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henry fails in his attempt to clinch.
Henry misses with a hook. Cross ducked under it nicely.
Henry looks to land a right hand but Cross moved out of range.
Henry tries to clinch

and Cross counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Henry avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cross.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross misses with a head shot. Henry uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cross in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cross stands up over Henry, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cross throws and elbow that misses. Henry uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cross's guard. Nice move by Henry!
Henry trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry tries to free his leg and advance position but Cross is retaining full guard.
Anthony Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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.
Henry trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henry on the ground.
Henry stays in close to Cross's body and controls the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cross fails with the takedown
and Henry counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cross tries for a takedown but Henry circles away easily

and Henry counters with a shoot takedown. Cross fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry scoring with some ground and pound.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Henry from controlling successfully.
Henry looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Henry trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Henry trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cross's guard.
Henry wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Henry will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Henry shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henry was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Henry can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cross is looking to escape.
Henry avoids the attempt from Cross to control.
Henry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry misses with a head shot.
A nice elbow there by Henry.
Cross trying desperately to get to his feet.
Cross is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Henry is going olschool here, as he tries to force Cross to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cross shrugs it off.

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.
Cross avoids a series of strikes thrown by Henry.
Henry can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cross is looking to escape.
Henry throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cross because Henry loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry misses with a head shot.
Henry throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Henry can't control as he wanted to and Cross manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Henry trying to pass the guard but Cross defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cross gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a few punches from side control.
Cross lands a decent elbow from side control.
Henry defending against the ground and pound.
Henry prevents Cross from improving position.
Cross scores with a couple of short elbows.
Henry misses with a strike from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry taking a bit of punishment here - Cross scoring with strikes.
Cross lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cross scoring with punches from side control.
Henry gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anthony Cross.
I think Cross has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Cross!