PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dean Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Hardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike Hardin was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cross
vs
Hardin

170 cm
25
147 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
28
155 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Hardin!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardin avoids the body shot from Cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hardin.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardin circles away.
Cross fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cross sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardin somewhat.
Cross tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cross throws a sloppy head kick
and Hardin counters with a good, hard body kick but Cross shrugs it off.
Cross tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardin circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardin circles away.
Cross misses with a head kick.
Cross with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cross thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cross but Cross pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hardin feints and as Cross raises his hands in defense, Hardin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cross wants to get back to his feet but Hardin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cross is keeping the position for now.
Hardin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Hardin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardin shoots in but Cross avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cross shoots for a takedown but Hardin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardin misses with a body shot.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cross as he avoids it easily.
Hardin looks winded!
Hardin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cross tries to avoid it but Hardin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cross to the ground. Cross escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cross sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardin somewhat.
Hardin looks to land a left hand but Cross moved out of range nicely.

Cross clinches up against the cage.
Cross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cross can't get the takedown.

Hardin pulls Cross into guard.
Cross trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.
Hardin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hardin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cross stacks Hardin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cross!
Cross wants to control but Hardin is keeping him busy.
Cross tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross wants to control but Hardin is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Hardin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cross swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hardin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Hardin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense.

Hardin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cross to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cross has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardin keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross tries to stand but Hardin is controlling from the bottom.
Cross trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardin is looking for a triangle but Cross pushes his legs off easily.
Cross preventing the sweep.
Hardin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cross is looking to stand up but Hardin won't let him.

Hardin has an active guard here but Cross has managed to pass into half guard.
Hardin is breathing heavily.

Cross decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cross rushes Hardin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cross gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hardin regains guard.
Cross working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hardin's head.
Hardin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cross manages to get himself to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hardin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cross has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardin has managed to get both his arms back between Cross's legs - danger averted.
Cross wants to stand but Hardin is controlling the position.
Cross tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardin stopping the sweep attempt from Cross.
Hardin works over Cross with some ground and pound from guard.
Cross trying to control the position.
Hardin trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hardin advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin trying to control the position but Cross is working away.
Hardin scoring with punches from side control.
Cross struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross is not content to let Hardin control the position.
Cross regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Cross dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardin looks for a takedown but Cross sprawls well.
Hardin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardin wants it to stay on the feet.

Hardin instigates a clinch.
Hardin takes a knee to the side of the body.

Hardin gets control of Cross's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross forces his way into half guard.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardin is refusing to be controlled, as Cross sits in half guard.

Cross is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardin has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin is trying to control but can't.
Cross wants to control but Hardin is keeping him busy.
Hardin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardin.
Cross pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardin is keeping the position for now.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hardin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cross manages to get himself to full guard.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to hold Hardin in close to prevent damage but Hardin has managed to pass into half guard.
Cross is pressing down on Hardin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hardin wants to stand and escape but instead Cross has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hardin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cross trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.
Hardin working a defensive guard here.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Hardin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardin pushes Cross off and gets back to his feet.
Cross throws a head kick that misses.
Hardin shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.
Hardin wants to clinch.
Cross shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cross gets a double leg takedown into Hardin's guard.
Hardin pulls Cross in close to his closed guard and prevents Cross from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cross trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.
Hardin wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hardin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dean Cross.
I think Cross has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Cross!