PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samu Venesmaa (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.

Cross
vs
Venesmaa

190 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marco Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Samu Venesmaa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Venesmaa.
Cross looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Venesmaa is fending him off so far but Cross persists. Nope, Venesmaa circles away and we're back to standing.
Venesmaa tries for a takedown but Cross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Venesmaa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cross is able to avoid easily.

Cross gets a takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cross looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Venesmaa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cross lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cross has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cross scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cross is nestled in close to Venesmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross is nestled in close to Venesmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Venesmaa defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross really is a fat lump.
Cross lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Venesmaa kicks Cross off and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Venesmaa.
Marco Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samu Venesmaa.
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown. Venesmaa tries to sprawl out of it but Cross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Venesmaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Venesmaa looks for a takedown but Cross sprawls well.

Cross shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is nestled in close to Venesmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Venesmaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Venesmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cross lands a couple of elbows.
Cross content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Venesmaa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Venesmaa looks winded!
Venesmaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venesmaa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Venesmaa is trying to keep Cross in close.
Cross trying to control the position from guard on top but Venesmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cross scoring with some ground and pound.
Cross not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cross chips away with some ground and pound.

Venesmaa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cross works over Venesmaa with some ground and pound from guard.
Cross working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Venesmaa's head.
Venesmaa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cross landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross with a nice head shot there.
Cross with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross landing with the ground and pound.
Cross keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Venesmaa's head.

Venesmaa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.
Cross is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cross working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Venesmaa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cross fails to land the takedown.

Cross closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Venesmaa's guard.
Cross is working Venesmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Venesmaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Venesmaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Venesmaa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cross gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cross postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Venesmaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Venesmaa, not yet.
Cross landing some decent shots from guard.
Venesmaa is breathing heavily.
Cross lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cross content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Venesmaa looking to control but Cross passes into half guard.
Venesmaa is looking to improve his position.
Cross winds up and cracks Venesmaa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cross takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Venesmaa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Venesmaa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross slips a nice elbow through Venesmaa's hands, connecting with Venesmaa's forehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Venesmaa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cross scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cross is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Cross there.
Venesmaa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cross scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cross lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Venesmaa has hold of Cross's hands but Cross slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cross is nestled in close to Venesmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cross lands strikes from half guard.
Cross lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cross working over Venesmaa with some ground and pound. Venesmaa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Cross.
Cross wants to take a breather but Venesmaa is having none of it.
Venesmaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cross takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cross working Venesmaa over with strikes.
Venesmaa tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
Cross is trying to control. Venesmaa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Venesmaa is trying to stand.
Cross scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cross looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Venesmaa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cross seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Marco Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cross is nestled in close to Venesmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cross connects with a nice short shot to Venesmaa's temple.
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!
Cross lands strikes from half guard.
Cross working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cross scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Venesmaa tries to get to full guard but Cross has control of the leg.
Cross not doing much here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross working Venesmaa over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Cross dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cross manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Venesmaa on his heels. He'll look to pass Venesmaa's guard now, I'm sure.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Venesmaa.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cross throwing strikes but missing.
Cross connects with a couple of short punches.
Cross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Venesmaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Venesmaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cross content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Venesmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Venesmaa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venesmaa keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.
Cross scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cross trying to control but Venesmaa is working from the bottom.
Venesmaa wants to get back to his feet but Cross is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cross working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cross is working Venesmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Venesmaa looking to control.
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Venesmaa can do to turn this around?
Cross is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cross is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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!
Cross lands a couple of digs.
Cross working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Venesmaa's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cross working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Venesmaa's head.
Cross lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cross chips away with some ground and pound.
Venesmaa has momentary wrist control but Cross slips an elbow through the middle.
Cross won't allow Venesmaa to get back to his feet.
Venesmaa is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
Marco Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross postures up and lands a big shot to Venesmaa's brow.
Cross is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cross postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cross is in close to Venesmaa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Venesmaa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Cross postures up and lands a big shot to Venesmaa's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cross's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cross stands up over Venesmaa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross stands up over Venesmaa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Venesmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cross postures up and lands a big shot to Venesmaa's brow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cross postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cross working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Venesmaa keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

Venesmaa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cross's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cross 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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