PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arwel Poacher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Kross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Poacher
vs
Kross

177 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Arwel Poacher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Kross!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kross connects with a leg kick. Poacher looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kross feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Poacher's calf.
Kross misses with a double jab.

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.
Poacher is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kross dives into side control.
Poacher struggling a bit here.
Poacher is trying to improve his position.
Poacher is working hard here to advance position.

Kross is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Poacher is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Poacher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
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!
Kross tries to move into full mount but can't pass Poacher's legs.

Kross thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kross looks up at the clock and then as Poacher takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kross smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kross lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kross creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
You can see the frustration on Poacher's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Kross.
Kross moves into full mount!
Poacher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poacher is squirming around, avoiding Kross's attempts to control the action.
Poacher wants to hold on but Kross pushes him away.
Kross pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kross goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Poacher turns into him and now he's in Kross's guard.
Kross is pulling down on Poacher's head. It's preventing any offense from Poacher, at least for the moment.
Poacher won't allow Kross to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kross pulls Poacher in close to his closed guard and prevents Poacher from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Poacher distracts Kross with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kross controlling Poacher's posture.
Poacher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Kross hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A lazy body kick from Kross

and Poacher holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Poacher tries to stall but Kross uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Kross wants the takedown. Poacher is fighting it off but Kross persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Poacher's guard against the cage.
Poacher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Poacher is breathing heavily.
Kross is working Poacher over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kross stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poacher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kross wants to control from the top but Poacher keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kross postures up in Poacher's guard and throws a big left but Poacher blocks it.
Kross with a flurry of punches that miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kross throws a big right hand that misses.
Kross throws a big right hand that misses.
Kross sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kross working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Poacher's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kross trying to control the position from guard on top but Poacher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kross looking to sit in guard and control but Poacher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kross dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Poacher.
Kross lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Poacher tries to clinch but Kross is having none of it.
Kross displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kross throws a nice outside leg kick.
Poacher fails with a takedown attempt.

Kross pushes Poacher up against the cage in a clinch.
Kross missing with knees to the body.
Poacher is trying to pull guard but Kross turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arwel Poacher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poacher takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poacher prevents a body shot from Kross.

Kross manages to break the clinch.
Poacher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kross closes the distance and pushes Poacher back into the cage.
Kross is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Poacher is defending well for now.
Kross trying to land knees to the body.
Poacher misses with a hook to the ribs.

Poacher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kross.
Horrible takedown by Kross or perhaps it was just good defense by Poacher which made him look bad.
Kross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Poacher as he avoids it easily.
Kross misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kross is breathing heavily.
Kross scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Poacher shoots in looking for a takedown but Kross manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Poacher's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kross.
Poacher with a hook.
A left and a right from Kross both land. Nice combination.
Poacher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kross counters with a nice low kick that buckles Poacher's knee momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kross closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Poacher blocks a body shot from Kross.

Poacher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kross's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kross duly obliges.
Poacher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kross dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Poacher. That did some damage!
Arwel Poacher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kross scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Kross feints and as Poacher raises his hands in defense, Kross changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kross passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kross in particular looking to stall.
Poacher wants to get back to full guard.
Kross lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kross decides to return to a standing position.
Kross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kross goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A punch combination from Kross misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Poacher moves into the clinch successfully.
Poacher is pressed up against the cage. Kross has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Poacher down to the mat. Poacher avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Poacher lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Poacher is defended easily by Kross.
Good leg kick by Kross there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Kross.
Poacher is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Poacher jabs at Kross's body.
Kross throws a combination that misses
and Poacher counters with a series of strikes. Kross will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kross gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Poacher cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kross throws a nice looking combination but Poacher bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kross works over Poacher's head and body with a nice combination.
Kross slaps away a takedown attempt from Poacher, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kross throws a left and a right that both miss

and Poacher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kross pulls Poacher in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poacher trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kross's guard.
Kross looking for a sweep. Not yet Kross, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kross working for submissions but it's allowed Poacher to get to half guard.
Kross wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poacher trying to control from half guard but Kross is working away.
Kross is looking to escape.
Nick Kross has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poacher lands strikes from half guard.
Poacher takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kross makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kross.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kross wants to sweep but no luck.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kross holds on and takes a little breather.
Kross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Poacher is stalling in the full guard.
Kross pulls Poacher in close to prevent any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Poacher changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kross throws a series of punches but Poacher avoids them all with ease.

Kross gets the takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kross tries to move to mount but Poacher blocks the move with his legs.
Kross wants to control for a moment but Poacher uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Kross not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kross works his way into side control.
Nick Kross is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kross passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Poacher!
Kross with the ground and pound from mount.
Kross punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kross content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arwel Poacher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Kross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kross has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Kross!