PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fjodor Kanchelskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cross
vs
Kanchelskis

190 cm
20
193 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, David Cross!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fjodor Kanchelskis!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cross closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Cross drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kanchelskis has Cross pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Cross manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Kanchelskis has picked Cross up - he's going for a ride! Kanchelskis dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Cross moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kanchelskis stopping the sweep attempt from Cross.
Cross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kanchelskis manages to get himself to full guard.
Kanchelskis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kanchelskis pulls Cross in close to prevent any damage.
Cross trying to control but Kanchelskis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross looking to sit in guard and control but Kanchelskis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cross avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cross is pulling down on Kanchelskis's head. It's preventing any offense from Kanchelskis, at least for the moment.
Kanchelskis landing some decent shots from guard.
Cross trying to control the position.
Kanchelskis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cross manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kanchelskis manages to get himself to full guard.
Kanchelskis is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kanchelskis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cross wants to control from the top but Kanchelskis keeps moving.
Kanchelskis is controlling Cross's posture.
Kanchelskis keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cross drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kanchelskis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kanchelskis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kanchelskis!
Cross tries to buck Kanchelskis off but Kanchelskis is having none of it.
Kanchelskis postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kanchelskis lands an elbow.
Kanchelskis working away.
Kanchelskis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cross sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cross takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cross is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kanchelskis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cross is looking to control Kanchelskis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cross avoid being mounted?
Kanchelskis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cross defending well though.
Cross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kanchelskis is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanchelskis thows a huge punch but Cross dodges it nicely.
Cross makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cross.
Kanchelskis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kanchelskis swinging wildly here.

Cross shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cross was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Cross working for a guillotine from mount but Kanchelskis is in no mood to give up.
Kanchelskis blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fjodor Kanchelskis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kanchelskis shoots in looking for a takedown. Cross tries to sprawl out of it but Kanchelskis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Cross manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cross lands a right hook to the body.
Kanchelskis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cross but Cross pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cross lands with a straight right. Kanchelskis didn't see that one coming.

Cross is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kanchelskis's half guard.
Cross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kanchelskis defending well though.
Cross wants to take a breather but Kanchelskis is having none of it.
Cross looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kanchelskis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cross not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cross slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross stalling away here and it's allowed Kanchelskis to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cross is looking to work some ground and pound but Kanchelskis has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cross is looking to regain half guard here but Kanchelskis keeps moving and retains side control.
Cross is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kanchelskis connects with a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Cross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kanchelskis cracks Cross with a big elbow.
Cross takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cross is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kanchelskis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kanchelskis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cross is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kanchelskis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kanchelskis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cross defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to control but can't.
Cross makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cross.
Kanchelskis postures up and lands a big shot to Cross's brow.
Cross has control of Kanchelskis's left arm, preventing Kanchelskis from doing any damage.
Cross is trying to control the position but Kanchelskis postures up.
Cross is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
David Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee stands the fighters back up. David Cross just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kanchelskis fails to land with a series of punches.
Kanchelskis fails to land with a series of punches.
Cross fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kanchelskis on the side of the head.
Kanchelskis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cross circles away quickly and effectively.
Kanchelskis is breathing heavily.

Kanchelskis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cross's half guard.
Cross is doing well to control the position and prevent Kanchelskis from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanchelskis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kanchelskis is working away from the top position though.
Cross slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cross lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kanchelskis!
Kanchelskis blocking the ground and pound.

Cross moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kanchelskis has worked his arm free - good work by Kanchelskis!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Cross.
Sloppy strikes there by Cross.

Cross is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kanchelskis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kanchelskis is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanchelskis wants to control but Cross postures up.
The ground and pound from Cross seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cross creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kanchelskis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cross in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cross lands a jab to Kanchelskis's midsection.

Cross looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kanchelskis is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cross is working for a kimura but Kanchelskis is defending it quite comfortably.
Cross works his way into full mount!

Cross working for a submission but Kanchelskis is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Cross there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kanchelskis tries to hold on but Cross postures up.
Cross misses with a head shot.
Kanchelskis holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cross tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

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.
Cross throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kanchelskis because Cross loaded up on that one.
Kanchelskis tries to improve his position but instead Cross has taken his back!
Kanchelskis has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Cross.
Cross throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Cross has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kanchelskis's body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cross is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kanchelskis tries to clinch up.

Kanchelskis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cross sprawls well initially but Kanchelskis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cross has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kanchelskis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kanchelskis is working away from the top position though.
Cross gets full guard.
Kanchelskis throwing strikes but missing.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cross managing to control the position.
Cross is trying to keep Kanchelskis in close.
Cross seems keen to control Kanchelskis's posture.
Kanchelskis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross pulls Kanchelskis in to control the position.
Cross trying to control the position.
Cross is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kanchelskis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee stands the fighters back up. David Cross just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cross bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Cross swings around for an armbar but Kanchelskis sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cross's guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kanchelskis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kanchelskis throwing strikes but missing.
Cross is pulling down on Kanchelskis's head. It's preventing any offense from Kanchelskis, at least for the moment.
Kanchelskis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cross is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cross thows a huge punch but Kanchelskis dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanchelskis keeps working.

Cross is looking for a kimura but Kanchelskis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cross to get the leverage.
Kanchelskis is looking to improve his position.

Cross is trying to work for a kimura but Kanchelskis is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross is nestled in close to Kanchelskis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cross thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kanchelskis's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kanchelskis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cross cracks the inside of Kanchelskis's front leg.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but Kanchelskis shows good takedown defense.
Cross circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cross jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kanchelskis drops his hands momentarily and Cross takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kanchelskis misses with a takedown
and Cross connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cross shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cross trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kanchelskis keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross throws a big right hand that misses.
Cross controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kanchelskis keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cross had his way with Fjodor Kanchelskis in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cross scores with a takedown into Kanchelskis's guard.
Kanchelskis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanchelskis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kanchelskis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cross is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cross not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cross is keen to just control but Kanchelskis is a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cross lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cross paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kanchelskis fails with a takedown attempt.
Kanchelskis is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cross shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kanchelskis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cross throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cross is looking to take a break and control but Kanchelskis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cross misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cross misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Cross wants to control but Kanchelskis is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanchelskis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cross throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Cross are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cross drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kanchelskis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cross.
Cross thumps Kanchelskis with a low kick.
Cross throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kanchelskis on the side of the head.
Kanchelskis fails with the takedown
and Cross cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
David Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kanchelskis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cross.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kanchelskis backwards.
Kanchelskis tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the ropes.
Kanchelskis is trying to break free.
Cross lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cross presses Kanchelskis against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cross is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cross goes for a takedown attempt but Kanchelskis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kanchelskis checks a low kick from Cross.
Cross cracks the inside of Kanchelskis's front leg.
Cross scores with a nice strike.
Nice sprawl there from Kanchelskis as Cross shoots in.
Kanchelskis misses with a wild combination.
A left lands for Cross.
Kanchelskis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fjodor Kanchelskis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cross closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kanchelskis to the mat! Kanchelskis manages to get full guard.
Fjodor Kanchelskis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cross is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cross has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 50:45
Judge James Glass scores the fight 49:46
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Cross!
David Cross retains his middleweight title!