PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Morgan might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Black Snake Moan. Cross is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Caught in a Hustle. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morgan
vs
Cross

182 cm
18
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
162 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronnie Morgan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Cross!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cross moves into the clinch successfully.
Cross pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Morgan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cross has him pressed against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Cross.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.
Cross tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Morgan counters with a good low kick that Cross was not able to check.
Cross stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Morgan.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Morgan pushes him off.
Cross moves to clinch but Morgan breaks away
and Morgan counters with a leg kick.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.
Cross tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
Cross is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.
Morgan misses with a low kick.
Cross tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cross tries to clinch but Morgan moves away
and Morgan counters with a thumping low kick.
Cross tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
Morgan throws a head kick but Cross moves out of range.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Morgan paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch
and Morgan counters with a good, hard body kick but Cross shrugs it off.
Cross throws a jab when Morgan was well out of range.
Morgan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Morgan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cross has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Morgan.
Morgan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Morgan tries to circle away but Cross has him pinned against the ropes.
Cross on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Morgan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cross misses with an elbow over the top.
Morgan is pressed up against the ropes. Cross has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Morgan down to the mat. Morgan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cross closes the distance but Morgan moves to the side
and Morgan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Cross looks gassed!
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!
Cross tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan thumps Cross with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Morgan scores with a leg kick.
Cross wants to clinch.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morgan feints and then cracks Cross's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cross down.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross wants to clinch.
Morgan lands with a kick to the temple. Cross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Michael Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Morgan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Morgan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Good leg kick by Morgan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cross darts in trying to clinch
and Morgan counters with a head kick. That will keep Cross thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Morgan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cross tries to clinch up
and Morgan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Morgan connects with a high kick.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Morgan.
Morgan swats away the attempt to clinch by Cross.
Morgan throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
That kick from Morgan tenderised Cross's leg. Cross is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cross is breathing heavily.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
Morgan misses with a head kick.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morgan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Morgan connects with an inside leg kick.
Ronnie Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Morgan.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Morgan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice body kick from Morgan.
Nice body kick from Morgan.
Cross tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Morgan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan misses with an attempted mid kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Morgan.
Morgan lands with a kick to the temple. Cross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Morgan scores with a head kick. Cross tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Morgan misses with a kick to the body.
Morgan misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Morgan. Beautiful body shot.
Ronnie Morgan is winning the standup battle so far.
Morgan looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Cross takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cross is looking to clinch.
Morgan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Morgan throws a head kick but Cross moves out of range.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cross wants to clinch.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cross has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Morgan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan throws a head kick but Cross moves out of range.
Morgan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cross's calf.
Cross tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Morgan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Cross tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Morgan counters with an inside leg kick.
Cross has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Morgan.
Cross tries to clinch but Morgan is having none of it.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Cross tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Morgan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cross's knee momentarily.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Morgan.
A slapping leg kick lands for Morgan.
Cross wants to clinch
and Morgan counters with an inside leg kick.
Morgan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cross has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Morgan throws the kick towards the body but Cross avoids it.
Cross sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Morgan lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Morgan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Morgan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Morgan circles away.
Cross has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Morgan.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cross blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Cross takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cross moves to clinch but Morgan breaks away
and Morgan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Morgan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cross if he has to take too many more of those.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morgan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morgan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cross uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morgan.
Morgan misses with a head kick.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
A chopping leg kick lands by Morgan.
Morgan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Morgan misses with a wild body shot.
Morgan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Morgan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Morgan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Morgan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Morgan throws a sloppy head kick and Cross moves out of range easily.
Cross tries to clinch there but Morgan circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Morgan clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Morgan pushes him off.
Cross wants to clinch up but Morgan keeps it at a distance.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
A solid leg kick lands there for Morgan.
Cross moves to clinch but Morgan breaks away
and Morgan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cross is looking to clinch.
Morgan throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cross moves to clinch but Morgan breaks away
and Morgan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Morgan is looking to wear down Cross with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cross is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Cross takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice body kick from Morgan.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Morgan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Morgan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morgan lands a leg kick that knocks Cross off balance momentarily.
Morgan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morgan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cross takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cross blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Morgan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Morgan scores with a head kick. Cross tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Morgan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cross can do to turn this around?
Cross looks to clinch
and Morgan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Morgan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Morgan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morgan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross slips a jab and a cross from Morgan.
Cross with a hook.
A head kick misses from Morgan.
Morgan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Morgan counters with a low kick, right behind Cross 's knee.
Morgan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cross moves into the clinch.
Morgan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cross lands a nice elbow.
Morgan cracks Cross with a nice body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cross has him pressed against the ropes.
Cross misses with an elbow strike.

Morgan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Morgan had his way with Michael Cross in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cross tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
Morgan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Morgan tries a head kick but it misses.
Morgan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morgan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cross moves to clinch but Morgan breaks away
and Morgan counters with a leg kick.
Cross tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Morgan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Morgan keeps the fight on the outside.
Morgan scores with a head kick. Cross tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Morgan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cross blocks the body kick.
Michael Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Morgan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cross avoids the head kick by Morgan.
Cross takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Morgan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan throws an overhand right that lands on Cross's shoulder, as Cross tries to avoid the shot.
Cross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morgan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ronnie Morgan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cross wants to clinch.
Morgan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A head kick from Morgan lands but Cross takes it in his stride.
Cross tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Morgan counters with a low kick, right behind Cross 's knee.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cross crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Morgan - the referee stops the clock and Cross gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Morgan. Cross manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Morgan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Morgan - that will leave a mark!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross is looking to clinch but Morgan is avoiding it.
Cross tries to clinch up but Morgan circles away and keeps his distance.
A solid body kick from Morgan.
Morgan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cross's hands.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cross crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Morgan - the referee stops the clock and Cross gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Morgan. Cross manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Morgan lands a front kick.
Morgan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Cross clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Morgan blocks the elbow strike.

Morgan manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronnie Morgan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morgan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:45
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Morgan!