PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hoag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hoag
vs
Cross

196 cm
21
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
27
260 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Hoag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Cross!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hoag feints and as Cross raises his hands in defense, Hoag changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hoag throws a big right hand that misses.

Hoag gets to his feet - Cross follows without any prompting.

Hoag darts in and clinches Cross up against the cage.

Hoag pulls Cross into guard.
Hoag is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hoag keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

Hoag had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.
Cross should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hoag looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wants to stand but Hoag is controlling his posture from full guard.

Hoag pushes Cross off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Hoag displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cross.
Cross works Hoag's body with a nice hook.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hoag paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hoag misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hoag as he jumps to the side.
Cross looks to score with a jab to the body but Hoag is just out of range.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joe Hoag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Cross.
A low kick from Cross is predictable there

and Hoag holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cross fails to pull guard.
Hoag slowing the pace effectively.

Hoag breaks the clinch.

Hoag has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hoag misses with an elbow over the top.
Cross fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cross tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoag smiles and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hoag connects with a solid leg kick.
Cross looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoag closes the distance and clinches.
Cross is looking to control Hoag's arms but Hoag gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cross has his back to the cage.
Cross fails to pull guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cross tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoag smiles and moves away.
Hoag shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hoag rushes Cross and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cross is trying to maintain a safe position but Hoag gets an underhook and turns Cross into the cage.
Hoag prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoag stalling.

Hoag manages to break the clinch.
Cross fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross tries to clinch but Hoag is having none of it.

Hoag throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cross tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hoag is in Cross's guard.

Hoag gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hoag drops Cross with a beautiful combination! Cross stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hoag is looking for the KO!

It looks like Aaron Cross has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hoag darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cross is rocked!
Hoag content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hoag dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Cross's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hoag fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hoag is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cross can do to turn this around?
Cross wants to clinch

and Hoag counters by moving into the clinch.
Hoag trying to land knees to the body.
Cross with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cross being controlled against the cage.
Cross is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hoag misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.

Hoag gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoag performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoag not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross is in trouble now - Hoag has advanced to mount!
BOOM! Hoag connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoag looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hoag wants to finish this one by submission but Cross is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hoag.
Hoag sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cross wants to hold on but Hoag pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cross can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hoag controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoag working for a submission but Cross is keeping him at bay.
Hoag punishing his opponent with strikes.

That has opened up Aaron Cross's cut even more.
Cross really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hoag. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hoag controlling the position easily from mount.
Hoag thowing shots but they're missing.
Hoag takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Joe Hoag overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoag keeps control of the position easily here as Cross tries to buck him off.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hoag tightening his grip on Cross, looking for the choke.
Cross is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoag keeps control of the position easily here as Cross tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hoag dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Cross's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Hoag clinches.
Cross managing to block the knees to the body from Hoag.
Hoag tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cross tries to pull guard but Hoag holds him up against the cage and eventually Cross drops back down to his feet.

Hoag lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Hoag seems content to control.
Hoag has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hoag seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cross for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Hoag.
Hoag throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cross gets tackled into the cage by Hoag. Hoag maintains the clinch.

Hoag jumps into guard, dragging Cross to the mat.

Hoag has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cross can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hoag is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cross throws an elbow that misses. Hoag uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cross's guard. Nice move by Hoag!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hoag engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hoag is pushing down on Cross's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cross is fighting to maintain full guard but Hoag has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hoag postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cross to stand up.
Hoag misses with a kick to the body.

Hoag has Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross jumps guard but Hoag stands there with Cross around his waist. Cross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoag pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hoag throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cross was covering up waiting for the punch and Hoag finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cross working a defensive guard here.
Cross wants to hit a switch here but Hoag passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cross there!

Hoag is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown. Hoag tries to sprawl out of it but Cross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hoag manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe Hoag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Cross.
Cross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hoag closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cross to the mat! Cross manages to get full guard.

Hoag gets to his feet. Cross looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoag connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cross momentarily.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hoag pushes Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hoag avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Aaron Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Hoag is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cross tries a body shot but Hoag blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hoag showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hoag 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Hoag!
A victorious Joe Hoag thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.