PBP Commentary

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

Ridela
vs
Cross

175 cm
21
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricky Ridela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Cross!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross tries to clinch up but Ridela circles away and keeps his distance.
Ridela tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cross swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ridela tries to clinch but Cross is having none of it.
Ridela avoids the head kick by Cross.

Cross has managed to clinch.
Ridela fails to pull guard.

Cross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Cross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ridela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cross swivels and escapes.
Ridela closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cross counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Ridela scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cross misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cross is looking for a sweep. Ridela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cross is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross is looking for a sweep. Ridela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cross wants to get back to his feet.
Cross is not content to let Ridela control the position.
Ridela working Cross over with strikes.
Cross is looking to improve his position.
Cross throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cross really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ridela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ridela wants to pass the guard but Cross is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ridela wants to get back to his feet.
Cross is not content to let Ridela control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridela landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cross is refusing to be controlled, as Ridela sits in half guard.
Cross is trying to control but can't.
Ridela wants to free his trapped foot but Cross is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ridela is thwarting Cross's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ridela avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ridela stuffs the takedown.
Ridela tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cross counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ridela moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ridela is defended easily by Cross.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Ridela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ridela shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cross throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cross throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ridela trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.

Cross looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross is trying to control the position but Ridela postures up.

Cross has his foot on Ridela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ridela works his way back into a safe position though.
Ridela stops Cross from standing up.
Ridela wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.
Ridela is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Cross looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ridela has picked Cross up and slammed him! Cross can't keep hold of the triangle and Ridela manages to pass to side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridela working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricky Ridela will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cross misses with a head kick.
Cross throws a body punch but Ridela moves out of range.

Ridela shoots in and gets a takedown into Cross's guard.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ridela wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.
Ridela postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chris Cross.
Cross defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ridela.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ridela instigates a clinch.
Ridela jumps guard but Cross stands there with Ridela around his waist. Ridela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Cross drags the fight down to the ground.
Ridela pushing down on Cross's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cross is not content to let Ridela control the position.
Ridela trying to pass the guard but Cross defending well.
Cross felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Ricky Ridela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cross is pressing down on Ridela's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ridela looking to pass the guard.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ridela advances to half guard.

Cross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ridela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ridela works his way into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridela wants to control but Cross is keeping him busy.

Ridela has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Cross goes for a double leg but Ridela avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ridela continues to drive forward.

Ridela decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridela keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

Cross drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cross jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ridela controls Cross momentarily but Cross frees himself.
Cross controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ridela is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cross is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
Cross wants to get up but he can't break Ridela's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross stays in close to Ridela's body and controls the position.
Ridela working a defensive guard here.
Ridela is really struggling to control Cross but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cross lands with a slapping head kick.
Cross has a takedown stuffed.
Ridela is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross throws a head kick that misses.
Ridela wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ridela dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Cross.
Ridela keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Cross with that takedown attempt.
Cross darts in looking for a takedown but Ridela gets double underhooks and turns Cross into the cage.
Cross lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ridela after a bit of a struggle.
Ricky Ridela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Cross.
Ridela wants to take the fight to the mat but Cross manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cross takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ridela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cross just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ridela.
Cross is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cross wants to break free but Ridela has control.

Cross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ridela.
Cross throws a low kick but Ridela moves out of range easily.
Cross rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ridela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cross shoots in but Ridela avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridela is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Ridela keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cross looks to land a combination but Ridela avoids it well.
Cross looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ridela has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ridela is defended easily by Cross.
Cross throws a body punch but Ridela moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross misses with a series of wild punches.
Chris Cross seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ridela has a takedown stuffed.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cross lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ridela has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ridela and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ridela swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cross throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ridela.

Ridela moves into the clinch.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Ridela is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridela jumps guard but Cross turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ridela manages to break the clinch.
Ridela shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.

Ridela 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ridela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cross controls Ridela momentarily but Ridela frees himself.
Cross is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Chris Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Ridela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chris Cross hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cross connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Cross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ridela 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Ridela!