PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cross
vs
Hammer

167 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 3 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hank Hammer!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cross takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hammer fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Hammer pushes Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hammer throws a nice looking combination but Cross bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Cross circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Hammer drives through with a takedown into Cross's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hammer looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hammer is one step ahead there.
Hammer wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.
Hammer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hammer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hammer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cross manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hammer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cross has Hammer pushed against the cage.

Cross breaks from the clinch.

Cross has closed the distance and engaged Hammer in a clinch.
Hammer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Hammer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hammer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cross's waist but Cross gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hammer off to one side.
Hammer tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Cross misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cross counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cross.
Malcolm Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Hammer.
Cross is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hammer wants to break free but Cross has control.
Cross pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cross slows down the pace here.
Cross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Cross manages to get underhooks.
Cross leaning against his opponent.
Hammer is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cross is keeping busy.
Cross just leaning against Hammer, taking a breather.
Hammer is trying to pull guard but Cross has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cross displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hammer up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malcolm Cross.

Hammer takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Hammer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Cross's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hammer shoots in but Cross avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malcolm Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Hammer.
Hammer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy body kick from Hammer
and Cross counters with an outside leg kick.
Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hank Hammer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hammer misses with a takedown
and Cross counters with a head kick. That will keep Hammer thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hammer is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer closes the distance and pushes Cross back into the cage.
Cross gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hammer.
Hammer with a knee to the head.
Hammer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cross is defending well.
Hammer looking for a takedown.
Cross holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cross is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cross gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is pressed up against the cage. Hammer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cross down to the mat. Cross avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hammer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cross tries a head kick but it misses.
Hammer shoots in looking for a takedown. Cross tries to sprawl out of it but Hammer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cross manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cross shoots in and gets a takedown into Hammer's guard.
Cross stands up over Hammer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cross is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Cross drops back looking for a leg! Hammer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hammer manages to kick Cross off! Cross jumps back into Hammer's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammer is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross landing some decent shots from guard.
Cross content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cross distracts Hammer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hammer throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cross uses it to pass to side control.
A lull in the action here as Cross stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Cross dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Cross's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Cross has managed to clinch.
Cross is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Cross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cross gets a takedown into half guard.
Hammer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cross is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cross is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hammer sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer taking some punishment here, with Cross in his half guard.
Hammer wants to get back to full guard but Cross has mounted him!
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hammer can do to turn this around?

Cross is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hammer to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hammer shrugs it off.
Hammer tries to buck Cross off but he can't manage it.
Hammer is trying to reverse the position but instead Cross has taken his back - oops!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cross looking for the RNC.
I would not like to be Hammer right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Hammer tries to escape but Cross has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Cross has managed to slip his arm under Hammer's chin. This could be all over... yep, Hammer is tapping out! Submission win for Cross.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Malcolm Cross!