PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Israel Okoye (ranked 1711 p4p, 1965 weight class) and Jeremy Cross (ranked 224 p4p, 256 weight class). Cross has chosen Folk Metal as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Okoye
vs
Cross

189 cm
23
245
5 - 5 - 0

195 cm
23
250
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Israel Okoye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeremy Cross!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoye takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cross lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Israel Okoye has been cut.
Okoye throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cross tries to move into range but Okoye moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Okoye connects with a right hand. Cross shakes it off.
Some bone on bone action there as Cross checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Okoye is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cross.
A shot to the body from Okoye misses
and Cross cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Israel Okoye seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okoye swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cross counters with a straight right hand.
Cross displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okoye throws out the jab.
Okoye moves in looking to clinch but Cross pushes him off.
Okoye takes a swing at Cross's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Okoye.
Okoye lands with a right hand.

It looks like Jeremy Cross has been cut.
Okoye uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cross.
Okoye throws a quick counter kick to the body but Cross avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoye misses with a shot to the body
and Cross counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Okoye checks a leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Okoye there.
Okoye misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cross.
Cross swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cross uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okoye.
Okoye swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cross let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Okoye throws a lazy uppercut
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okoye misses with a left hand
and Cross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Israel Okoye's cut is getting worse.
Nice body kick from Okoye.
Okoye loads up on a big right hand but Cross slips the punch.
A low kick lands for Cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross misses with a low kick.
Cross ducks under a wild hook from Okoye.

Okoye moves into range and clinches up with Cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
Cross misses with a punch to the body.
Cross cracks Okoye with a nice body shot.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Okoye stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cross steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Okoye. That one must have hurt.
Cross takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Okoye takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Okoye throws a jab but it's blocked by Cross.
Cross replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Okoye blocks it well.
Okoye throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Okoye lands with a hook. Cross tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoye ducks under a wild hook from Cross.
Okoye rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Cross counters with a crisp one two that drops Okoye! Cross thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Okoye to his feet! Okoye is in big trouble!
Cross takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cross looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okoye dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cross throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cross slaps away a takedown attempt from Okoye, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Okoye connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jeremy Cross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cross thuds his shin into the meat of Okoye's side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okoye swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cross counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoye misses with a hook.
Cross thumps Okoye with a low kick.
Cross on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cross swings for the body but Okoye moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Cross.
Cross lands a right hook to the body.
Okoye misses with a body punch
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okoye throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cross takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross connects with a good right hand that stumbles Okoye. Okoye circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cross is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Okoye had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Cross misses with a leg kick.
Okoye tries to clinch but Cross moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Cross dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Okoye scores with a leg kick.
Okoye throws a body punch but Cross moves out of range.
Cross is trying to counter with his kicks.
Okoye loads up on a big right hand but Cross slips the punch.
Cross throws a body punch but Okoye moves out of range.
Cross throws a shot from downtown. Okoye moves away and avoids it.
Cross lands a nice hook to Okoye's body. Okoye takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Okoye wants to clinch
enabling Cross to counter with a crisp jab.
Cross has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Good leg kick by Okoye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross thows a left - swing and a miss!
Okoye throws a big shot that misses.
Okoye throws a body shot but no joy.
Okoye lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cross blocks a low kick nicely.
Okoye ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Cross throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Okoye misses with a body shot

and Cross counters with a nice right hand that sends Okoye toppling to the canvas! Okoye scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Cross finish him?!

Okoye is rocked!
Cross scores with a hook to the body. Okoye takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Oh Okoye is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cross fakes the body blow, causing Okoye to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Okoye goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jeremy Cross!
Jeremy Cross thanked the fans post fight for their support.