PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cross
vs
Black

167 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malcolm Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tarik Black!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross shoots in looking for a takedown. Black tries to sprawl out of it but Cross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Black manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Black shoots in and drives through. Cross sprawls well.

Cross gets tackled into the cage by Black. Black maintains the clinch.
Cross stalling the fight.

Black breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Black pushes Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
Cross is stalling here.
A bit of stalling here from Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Black fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cross sprawls well initially but Black persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Black seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Black lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Black working Cross over with strikes.

It looks like Malcolm Cross has been cut.
Black looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cross with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Black is nestled in close to Cross, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Malcolm Cross's cut is getting worse.
Cross wants to get back to his feet.
Cross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Black stops Cross from getting back to his feet.
Black seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cross really is a fat lump.
Black 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.

Malcolm Cross's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Black in particular looking to stall.

Black stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cross to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cross wants it to stay on the feet.
Black shoots for a double leg takedown but Cross sprawls well. He's pushed Black's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cross tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Black manages to circle out of the way.
Malcolm Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Black.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cross.
A punch combination from Black misses.
Black throws a lazy head kick
and Cross counters with a head kick. That will keep Black thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cross displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Black.
Black looks winded!
Cross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black fails with the takedown
and Cross counters with a head kick.
Cross stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.
Black tries for a takedown but Cross circles away easily
and Cross counters with a right hand to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by Cross.
Cross throws a quick counter head kick but Black was just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tarik Black will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Cross's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cross scores with a takedown into Black's guard.

Cross postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Black is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cross, into his guard.

Black postures up in Cross's guard and throws a big left but Cross blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Cross throws Black to one side and escapes!
Cross shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Black counters with a left hand that sends Cross to the canvas!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Cross covers up, he's hurt! Black keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Black and the ref steps in to end the fight! Black can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tarik Black!