PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasmus Soderstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross comes to the cage accompanied by Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. Soderstrom has chosen Metallica Don't Tread on Me as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Cross
vs
Soderstrom

179 cm
22
168 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
168 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Amber Swan CBK
Bare Knuckle Clothing

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rasmus Soderstrom!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross avoids the head kick by Soderstrom.
Cross throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soderstrom takes a swing at Cross's ribcage but misses.
Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soderstrom manages to avoid it.
Cross with a jab.
Cross getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Soderstrom dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Nice sprawl there from Soderstrom as Cross shoots in.
Soderstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cross.
Cross thows a body shot but no joy.
Cross lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soderstrom circles away quickly and effectively.
Cross connects with a right hand. Soderstrom shakes it off.
Soderstrom thows a body shot but no joy.
Cross uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Soderstrom.
Cross scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross throws a big shot that misses.
Cross blocks a head kick by Soderstrom.
Cross fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cross misses with a jab, cross combination.
A left lands for Cross.
Cross lands a nice looking body shot.
Soderstrom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cross paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Soderstrom.
Soderstrom throws a good cross that connects.
Cross waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Soderstrom.

Cross gets a takedown into half guard.
Cross is looking to take a break and control but Soderstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cross is looking to take a break and control but Soderstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cross thows a huge punch but Soderstrom dodges it nicely.
Cross throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Soderstrom controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Soderstrom has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soderstrom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Soderstrom fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross throws a right and a left that Soderstrom avoids nicely.
Cross throws a hook to the side of Soderstrom's head but Soderstrom sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cross swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cross has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soderstrom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soderstrom lands a front kick.
Soderstrom lands a head kick!

Cross closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Soderstrom to the mat! Soderstrom manages to get full guard.
Cross won't allow Soderstrom to sweep him here.
Cross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cross is looking to work some ground and pound but Soderstrom has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Soderstrom's head.
Cross connects with a couple of short punches.
Soderstrom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cross drops back looking for a leg! Soderstrom is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soderstrom manages to kick Cross off! Cross jumps back into Soderstrom's guard.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Soderstrom wants to sweep here but Cross controlling him for the moment.
Soderstrom has his hands on Cross's head, controlling the position.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
Soderstrom 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cross accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Soderstrom goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cross pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soderstrom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross avoids the head kick by Soderstrom.
Soderstrom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cross.
Cross scores with a body shot.
Cross takes a swing at Soderstrom's ribcage but misses.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Soderstrom ducks right into an uppercut from Cross.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Soderstrom misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
David Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soderstrom steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cross.
Cross clobbers Soderstrom with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
No joy there for Cross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cross scores with a sloppy right hand. Soderstrom should have avoided that one.
Soderstrom tries to clinch up but Cross circles away and keeps his distance.
Cross is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soderstrom.
Soderstrom misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cross avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soderstrom throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cross.
Cross misses with a hook.
Rasmus Soderstrom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soderstrom throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Soderstrom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cross.
Soderstrom throws a good cross that connects.
Soderstrom digs a good hook to Cross's body.
Cross connects with a good right hand that stumbles Soderstrom. Soderstrom circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soderstrom manages to avoid it.
Soderstrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cross on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cross misses with a shot to the body
and Soderstrom counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross misses the shot to the body.

Soderstrom rushes Cross and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Soderstrom lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Soderstrom lands an elbow that stopped Cross in his tracks for a moment.
Soderstrom lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cross drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soderstrom lands a nice elbow.
Cross lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Soderstrom backwards.
Soderstrom with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Soderstrom unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Soderstrom prevents a body shot from Cross.
Cross blocks the elbow strike.
Cross tries to pull guard but Soderstrom holds him up against the cage and eventually Cross drops back down to his feet.
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!
Soderstrom utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soderstrom gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Soderstrom misses with a knee to the head.
Cross throws a head punch that misses.
Cross avoiding damage as Soderstrom throws knees to the body.
Soderstrom lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cross drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Soderstrom manages to break the clinch.
Cross blocks a jab.
Soderstrom slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Soderstrom chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rasmus Soderstrom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Soderstrom looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Soderstrom throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cross works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soderstrom misses with a straight right.
Soderstrom tries to clinch up.
A cross from Cross lands.
Soderstrom pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cross is out of range and Soderstrom settles back down.

Soderstrom instigates a clinch.
Cross throws an elbow but it misses.
Cross misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Soderstrom.
Cross is looking to break free of the clinch but Soderstrom has double underhooks.
Soderstrom tries to land knees in the clinch but Cross avoids the damage to the body.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cross blocks an uppercut.
Cross lands a nice uppercut.
Cross jumps guard but Soderstrom stands there with Cross around his waist. Cross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soderstrom.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soderstrom lands a good knee to the midsection. Cross won't want to take too many of those.
Cross takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cross working Soderstrom over with knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cross has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Soderstrom uses from the top position.

Cross has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Soderstrom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rasmus Soderstrom will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cross throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cross jabs at Soderstrom's body.
Cross loads up on a big right hand but Soderstrom slips the punch.

Soderstrom clinches with his opponent.
Soderstrom landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cross cracks Soderstrom with a nice body shot.
Cross throws a head punch that misses.
Soderstrom lands an elbow that stopped Cross in his tracks for a moment.
Soderstrom lands an elbow that stopped Cross in his tracks for a moment.
Soderstrom throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soderstrom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Soderstrom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cross has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cross lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cross working hard to break the clinch.
Soderstrom tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cross is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cross throws a punch but it's blocked by Soderstrom.
Soderstrom throws a knee to the head but misses.

Cross breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross loads up on a big right hand but Soderstrom slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Cross throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Soderstrom keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cross.
Cross shoots in and drives through. Soderstrom sprawls well.
Soderstrom misses with a kick to the body.
Soderstrom ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Soderstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cross.
Cross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soderstrom moves away.

Soderstrom has closed the distance and engaged Cross in a clinch.
Soderstrom blocking some punches.
Soderstrom scores with a knee to the head.
Cross has a couple of punches blocked by Soderstrom.
Soderstrom blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two 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.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Soderstrom.

Soderstrom breaks the clinch.
Soderstrom dips to his left and cracks Cross with an uppercut!
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soderstrom tries to clinch but Cross moves out of range.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soderstrom as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Cross misses.
Cross works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Soderstrom - that will leave a mark!
Soderstrom fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cross. Soderstrom does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cross loads up on a big right hand but Soderstrom slips the punch.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross scores with a sloppy right hand. Soderstrom should have avoided that one.
Cross misses with a hook. Soderstrom ducked under it nicely.
Cross digs a good body shot into Soderstrom's ribs.
Cross throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cross blocks a head kick by Soderstrom.
A big left from Cross misses.
Cross throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soderstrom misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Cross misses its intended target.
A good leg kick by Soderstrom.
Soderstrom misses with a wild combination.
Soderstrom swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderstrom lands with a slapping head kick.
A low kick from Soderstrom misses
and Cross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cross. Soderstrom does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Cross finds it's way through Soderstrom's defenses.
A telegraphed right hand from Soderstrom misses the target.
Soderstrom cracks the inside of Cross's front leg.
Soderstrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soderstrom slips a straight right by Cross.
Cross throws a big shot that misses.
Rasmus Soderstrom seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soderstrom walks into a stiff left hand from Cross.
Soderstrom ducks under a wild hook from Cross.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soderstrom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasmus Soderstrom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Soderstrom 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasmus Soderstrom!