PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leerose Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Cross had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cross
vs
Noel

174 cm
20
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

173 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

MMA nutrition

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 5 - 4 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leerose Noel!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Noel.
Noel misses with a few strikes there.
Noel tries to clinch there but Cross circles away.
As Noel tries to get set, Cross tries to push him back and clinch up but Noel manages to avoid the attempt.

Cross closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Noel did well to prevent Cross getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noel is trying to control but can't.
We've been hearing good reports from Cross's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Cross wants to take a breather but Noel is having none of it.
Cross is taking a breather. Noel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Noel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Noel has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cross has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.

Cross ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cross no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Noel trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross working a defensive guard here.
Noel wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.
Noel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Noel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Noel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noel postures up in Cross's guard and throws a big left but Cross blocks it.
Noel forces his way into half guard.
Cross blocking the ground and pound attempt from Noel.
Cross tries to roll over but Noel keeps him under control.
Noel 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 is staying active underneath Noel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cross wants to improve his position but Noel is controlling well.
Noel throws a strike but Cross avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Noel wants to stand but Cross has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cross tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Noel from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Noel plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Cross shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cross prevents Noel from standing back up.
Cross is trying to control the action in half guard but Noel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Noel is trying to get back to full guard.
Noel is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cross seems to be working for a kimura but Noel defends the submission attempt.

Noel has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Cross is on him like a limpet, forcing Noel back against the cage.

Cross pulls Noel into guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Noel working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Noel trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cross is trying to keep Noel in close.
Cross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cross working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Noel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Noel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cross looking for a sweep. Not yet Cross, not yet.
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 Chris Cross will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sloppy strikes from Cross. Those never looked like landing.
Cross does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Noel has a takedown stuffed.
Cross misses with a leg kick.
Cross misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cross fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Noel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noel shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.
Cross misses with a wild combination.
Cross lands a jab-cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross blocks a leg kick.
Cross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As Cross backs off Noel throws a huge counter combo but Cross manages to avoid it all.
Noel lands a leg kick that knocks Cross off balance momentarily.
Noel tries a low kick but Cross avoids it.
Cross blocks a head kick by Noel.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noel. Cross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Noel misses with a wild combination.
Cross shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Noel as he jumps to the side.
Noel feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Noel.
Cross throws a head kick that misses.
Noel tries to counter by closing the distance.
Cross misses with a body kick.
Cross sets himself, and Noel steps forward looking for the clinch! Cross avoids it this time.
Noel throws a head kick that Cross semi-blocks.
Noel dodges the punch combination from Cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Noel.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Noel but Noel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
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 closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to pull guard but Noel won't allow it.
Cross blocks an elbow strike from Noel.
Cross swings wildly with an uppercut but Noel uses good head movement to avoid it.

Cross wants the takedown. Noel is fighting it off but Cross persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Noel's guard against the cage.
Noel 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.
Noel has his hands on Cross's head, controlling the position.
Noel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cross.
Noel is adopting a defensive guard.
Cross won't allow Noel to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel 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 with a flurry of punches that miss.
Noel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cross has managed to clinch.
Cross misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Noel gets through Cross's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cross creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Noel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cross prevents it.

Cross pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Cross 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.
Noel swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Noel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cross.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cross. Noel shrugs it off though.
Noel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cross throws a nice looking combination but Noel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cross takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Noel fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noel leaves Cross with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cross moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cross did well to prevent Noel getting side control.
Noel is trying to control. Cross wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cross manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Noel wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.

Cross has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Noel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cross has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Noel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Noel trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noel lands a couple of elbows.
Cross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cross looking for a sweep. Not yet Cross, not yet.
Noel throws a big right hand that misses.
Noel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Noel trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Noel fails in his attempt to clinch.

Noel moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Noel.
Noel blocking some punches.
Cross looking to stall.
Cross has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Noel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Cross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cross backwards.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cross.
Cross tries to score a body lock takedown but Noel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Noel lands with a left to the head.
Cross tries to work over Noel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cross is looking to control Noel's arms but Noel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cross has his back to the cage.
A short uppercut from Noel.
Noel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cross pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cross shoots in for a takedown but Noel shows good takedown defense.
Noel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross looks to land a combination but Noel avoids it well.
Noel connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cross momentarily.
Noel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Noel tries to counter it with a takedown but Cross pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A left lands for Noel.

Cross is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Noel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cross, pushing him back against the cage.
Oh Cross is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Noel taking a breather.
Noel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leerose Noel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross has had enough of the clinch but Noel keeps him there for the moment.

Noel is trying to trip Cross. He has hold of a leg but Cross is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Noel persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Noel working some strikes from top position.
Noel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Noel is pushing down on Cross's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cross is fighting to maintain full guard but Noel has managed to sneak the leg through.

Cross is defending against the submission attempts here by Noel.
Cross is trying to maintain the position but Noel is very close to passing his half guard.
Cross punching from the bottom.
Chris Cross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Noel lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leerose Noel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cross 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Cross!
Chris Cross made sure to mention his sponsor, MMA nutrition in his post fight interview.