PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dean Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Rothko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cross
vs
Rothko

170 cm
25
147 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 4 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Walter Rothko !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rothko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rothko slows down the pace here.
Cross is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rothko is defending well for now.

Rothko breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rothko is defended easily by Cross.
Cross shoots for a takedown but Rothko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cross throws a head kick that misses.
Rothko shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cross wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross closes the distance but Rothko moves to the side

and Rothko counters by moving into the clinch.

Rothko decides to pull guard.
Cross wants to control from the top but Rothko keeps moving.
Rothko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cross manages to get himself to full guard.

Cross has his foot on Rothko 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rothko works his way back into a safe position though.
Rothko is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to sweep but no luck.
Rothko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Cross is working an open guard so Rothko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cross shoots for a takedown but Rothko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cross is looking to clinch.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Rothko . No joy for Cross on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothko shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.

Rothko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Rothko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rothko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cross controls Rothko momentarily but Rothko frees himself.
Cross is looking to sweep but instead, Rothko has passed into half guard.
Cross keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rothko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cross trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horrible takedown by Cross or perhaps it was just good defense by Rothko which made him look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Cross as Rothko shoots in.
Rothko has a takedown stuffed.
Rothko throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Dean Cross has been cut.
Rothko slaps away a takedown attempt from Cross, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Rothko or perhaps it was just good defense by Cross which made him look bad.
Cross connects with a jab.
Rothko checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cross is defended easily by Rothko .
Rothko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cross swivels and escapes.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rothko misses with a body punch
and Cross makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cross fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rothko avoids it really well and circles away.
Cross slaps away a takedown attempt from Rothko , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rothko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cross as he avoids it easily.
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown but Rothko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cross's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to clinch

and Rothko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rothko .
Cross is trying to drag Rothko to the mat but Rothko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rothko breaks the clinch.
Rothko closes the distance and clinches up with Cross, looking for a takedown. Rothko pushes Cross against the cage but Cross circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rothko dives in and grabs Cross's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cross pushes down on Rothko 's head and hops out.
Cross changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rothko tries to avoid it but Cross manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rothko to the ground. Rothko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rothko tries for a takedown but Cross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rothko shoots in looking for a takedown but Cross manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rothko 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rothko is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails with the takedown.

Cross clinches up against the cage.

Rothko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dean Cross is winning the standup battle so far.
Rothko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cross counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cross gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rothko moves into the clinch.
Cross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Rothko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Rothko moves into range and clinches up with Cross.
Cross wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rothko has him pressed against the cage.
Cross is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rothko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cross goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rothko prevents it.
Rothko gets underhooks to prevent Cross's takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rothko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rothko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cross pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Walter Rothko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dean Cross's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cross tries to clinch but Rothko moves away

and Rothko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rothko .

Rothko breaks from the clinch.
Rothko misses with a two punch combination.
Cross tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rothko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rothko throws a head kick that half lands.
Cross throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rothko throws the left hand but Cross avoids the punch easily.
Cross wants to clinch

and Rothko moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cross is defending well.
Cross is trying to force a seperation but Rothko has the dominant position.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but Rothko blocks with his arms.
Rothko slows down the pace here.
Cross is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cross is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rothko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rothko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cross is defending well.
Rothko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cross wants to break free but Rothko has control.

Rothko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rothko swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Rothko or perhaps it was just good defense by Cross which made him look bad.
Dean Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Rothko .
Cross scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rothko looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.

Rothko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cross stops a takedown attempt from Rothko .
Rothko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cross gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rothko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cross manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cross looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rothko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rothko controlling the action here.
Rothko is looking to advance position but Cross won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rothko on the ground.
Cross being controlled here, momentarily.
Cross is trying to keep Rothko in close.
Rothko trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Walter Rothko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cross!
Rothko circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rothko counters with a slapping leg kick.

Rothko takes the fight into the clinch.

Cross is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rothko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cross to the mat. Cross regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rothko looking to sit in guard and control but Cross gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothko is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Rothko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rothko 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Rothko !