PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Terible (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.

Kross
vs
Terible

170 cm
20
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 St Petersburg, Michael Kross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, El Terible!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Terible shoots and misses
and Kross counters with a nice kick to the body.

Terible shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kross manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Terible stopping the sweep attempt from Kross.
Kross being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Terible 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.
Kross is trying to control the position but Terible postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Kross.
Nice takedown defense from Kross. No joy for Terible on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terible shoots and misses

and Kross counters with a shoot takedown. Terible fights it but they end up in guard.
Michael Kross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Terible.

Kross 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Terible looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kross is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Terible can do anything to dispel that myth.
Terible looks gassed!
Terible looking to control.
Kross sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kross has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Terible keeping full guard, as Kross tries to pass.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Kross wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Kross clinches up with Terible and pushes him back against the cage.

Kross breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Terible gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kross to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kross is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terible looking to control.
Kross trying to control but Terible is working from the bottom.
Kross sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Kross.
Kross leaves Terible with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kross closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Terible's guard.
Kross slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kross wants to get up but he can't break Terible's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kross's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Kross.

Kross gets a takedown into half guard.
Kross is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A left and a right from Kross both land. Nice combination.

Kross closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Terible's guard.
Terible not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kross looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Michael Kross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Michael Kross has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Terible with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kross counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Terible!
Terible is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kross with good strikes from the mount here!
Kross raining down shots from the mount!
Kross working Terible over with strikes here.
Kross controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kross looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Terible taking shots to the head.
Terible is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kross content just to control the position here.
Kross scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Terible?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kross has control of Terible's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Terible regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Terible has given up his back. Will we see Kross going for some submissions?
Kross controlling well, preventing Terible from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kross trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Terible doesn't escape.
Kross's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kross is persistently looking for the submission but Terible is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kross dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kross closes the distance and clinches.
Terible drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kross manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Terible.

Kross shoots in and bounces Terible off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kross trying to control the position from guard on top but Terible is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Terible takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kross trying to stand up but can't free himself from Terible's guard.
Terible keeping moving, preventing Kross from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Terible looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Kross.

Kross feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kross passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kross decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Kross takes the fight into the clinch.

Kross turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kross tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kross trying to control the position but Terible is working away.
Kross is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Terible will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kross trying to control the action but Terible is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Kross wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kross scores a takedown into full mount!

Kross is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Terible is surviving well by controlling Kross's body position as best he can.

Kross gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Terible blocks a leg kick.
Terible tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kross swivels and escapes.
Michael Kross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Terible.

Kross shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Terible manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Terible looking for a guillotine here but Kross defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Terible looking for a sweep. Not yet Terible, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kross 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Michael Kross!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Michael Kross!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Michael Kross!

Michael Kross wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Michael Kross thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.