PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chris Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cirilo Galiei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cirilo Galiei told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cross
vs
Galiei

174 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
34
136 lbs
4 - 36 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 36 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cirilo Galiei!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

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

and Cross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Galiei is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Cross breaks from the clinch.

Cross looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cross is working for a kimura but Galiei is defending it quite comfortably.
Cross passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Galiei prevents Cross from moving into mount.
Cross just content to control the position.

Cross working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross staying calm.
Cross seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Galiei for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Galiei can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Galiei tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cross counters by clinching up.

Cross has picked Galiei up - he's going for a ride! Cross dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Still in half guard, Cross seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cross fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Galiei wants to clinch up but Cross keeps it at a distance.
Chris Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross misses with the combination.
Cross throws a series of punches but Galiei avoids them all with ease.
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Galiei tries to clinch but Cross moves away
and Cross counters with a solid body kick.
Galiei defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cross.
An inside leg kick lands from Cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross closes the distance and clinches up with Galiei, looking for a takedown. Cross pushes Galiei against the cage but Galiei circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cross fails to land with a series of punches.
Cross shoots in but no luck this time.
Galiei wants to clinch

and Cross holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cross loads up on a big right hand but Galiei slips the punch.
Galiei tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cross counters with a head kick.
Cross misses with a wild combination.
Cross changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Galiei tries to avoid it but Cross manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Galiei to the ground. Galiei escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Galiei moves to clinch but Cross breaks away
and Cross counters with a low kick, right behind Galiei 's knee.
We've been told by Cross's head coaches at Last Dragon MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Galiei dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Galiei tries to close the distance and clinch but Cross swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galiei closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cross counters with a two punch combo.
Galiei closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cross counters with a two punch combo.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Galiei can do to turn this around?
No joy there for Cross, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Galiei is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cross.
Galiei tries to clinch there but Cross circles away.
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galiei blocks a jab.
Galiei tries to clinch but Cross is having none of it.
Cross throws a series of punches but Galiei avoids them all with ease.
Galiei closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cross counters with a head kick. That will keep Galiei thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cross with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Galiei is looking to clinch but Cross is avoiding it.

Cross shoots in and gets a takedown into Galiei's guard.
Cross advances to half guard.

Cross is working for a kimura but Galiei is defending it quite comfortably.
Galiei is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cross scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Cross dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cross misses with a series of wild punches.
Chris Cross is winning the standup battle so far.

Cross manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Galiei on his heels. He'll look to pass Galiei's guard now, I'm sure.
Cross controls from within his opponent's guard.
Chris Cross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cross's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross slips nicely into half guard.
Cross is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Cross stands up from mount. Strange move.
Galiei slips a straight right by Cross.
Galiei fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cross forces Galiei back against the cage and clinches.

Cross manages to break the clinch.
Galiei wants to clinch
and Cross counters with a good, hard body kick but Galiei shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Galiei leaves Cross with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cross takes the fight into the clinch.
Cross leaning his opponent against the cage.
Galiei tries a body shot but Cross blocks it.
Galiei is looking to control Cross's arms but Cross gets an underhook and turns him. Now Galiei has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to work over Galiei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A frustrated look appears on Cross's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cross jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Galiei walks away with a smile on his face. Cross gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Galiei tries to clinch up.
Chris Cross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cross misses with a combination

and Galiei counters with a beautiful punch that sends Cross to the canvas!
Galiei wants to get up but he can't break Cross's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cross seems keen to control Galiei's posture.

Cross looking for a guillotine here but Galiei defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross working a defensive guard here.

Galiei is posturing up here but Cross has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Galiei tries to roll out but it's too tight and Galiei has to tap! Slick submission there by Cross!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chris Cross!