PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rhino Cross (ranked 4431 p4p, 4211 weight class) and Lincoln Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhino Cross has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cross
vs
Turner

190 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
220
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rhino Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lincoln Turner!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Turner pushes him off.
Turner is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Turner drives through and clinches with Cross against the cage.
Cross can't break the clinch.

Turner manages to break the clinch.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Turner has eaten all the pies!
Turner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Turner pushes him off.

Cross has Turner up against the cage in a clinch.
Cross is trying to force a seperation but Turner has the dominant position.
Cross tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Turner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cross uses from the top position.
Turner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross tries to stand but Turner is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turner looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cross passes into side control.
Turner struggling a bit here.
Turner is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross tries to stand but Turner is controlling his head.
Cross tries to get to his feet but Turner is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Cross in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Turner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Turner 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 stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Turner pushes Cross up against the cage in a clinch.
Turner tries to pull guard but Cross forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cross misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Turner tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.
Rhino Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lincoln Turner.
A head punch on the inside from Cross fails to land.

Turner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cross is looking to stand up but Turner won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner managing to control the position.
Cross wanted to stand there but Turner had control of the position.
Turner has control of Cross's left arm, preventing Cross from doing any damage.
Cross wanted to stand there but Turner had control of the position.
Turner has his hands on Cross's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Turner throws a head kick that misses.
Turner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Turner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cross counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Turner!

Turner is rocked!
Turner looks winded!
Turner is trying is best to control the position here.
Cross tries to stand and escape but Turner is controlling the position.
Turner controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Cross wants to stand up but Turner has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turner trying to control from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Turner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Turner tries to counter with a clinch but Cross shakes him off and moves away.
Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Turner manages to avoid it.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Turner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Turner doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cross throws a right and a left that Turner avoids nicely.
Turner closes the distance and clinches up with Cross, looking for a takedown. Turner pushes Cross against the cage but Cross circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Turner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Turner prevents Cross from breaking the clinch.
Turner jumps guard but Cross turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cross missing with knees to the body.
Turner avoiding damage as Cross throws knees to the body.

Turner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner has control of Cross's left arm, preventing Cross from doing any damage.
Cross wants to get up but he can't break Turner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cross wanted to stand there but Turner had control of the position.
Turner 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cross wants to get up but he can't break Turner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Turner throws a push kick but Cross slaps the foot to one side.
Turner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cross counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rhino Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lincoln Turner.
Turner is breathing heavily.
Cross throws a body punch but Turner moves out of range.
Turner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cross appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Turner drives through and clinches with Cross against the cage.
Cross is trying to break the clinch but Turner has him pressed against the cage.
Turner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cross's efforts to push away.
Turner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cross walks away with a smile on his face. Turner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Turner looks for a takedown but Cross sprawls well.
Cross is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Turner shoots in but no luck this time.
Turner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross stuffs the takedown attempt from Turner. Turner gets slowly back to his feet.
Cross wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Turner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cross moves in looking to clinch but Turner pushes him off.
Turner shoots in for a double leg but Cross sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good standup being displayed there by Cross as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Lincoln Turner has been cut.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Turner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lincoln Turner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Turner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Turner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Turner keeps the fight on the outside.
Cross wants to clinch up but Turner keeps it at a distance.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Turner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Turner wants to counter the offense by Cross and move into the clinch position.
Turner shoots in for a double leg but Cross sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Turner circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch but Turner moves out of range.

Cross closes the distance and clinches.
Turner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cross to keep the fight standing.
Turner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Turner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cross's efforts to push away.
Cross misses with the head strike.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rhino Cross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Turner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Turner circles away.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Turner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch but Turner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Turner circles away.
Cross connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Turner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rhino Cross dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lincoln Turner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cross throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Turner steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cross.
Turner shoots in for a double leg but Cross sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cross tries to clinch up but Turner circles away and keeps his distance.
Cross avoids a kick to the body.

Cross tries to sprawl but Turner drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Cross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.

Cross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cross is staying active underneath Turner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cross looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner 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.

Cross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Well, if Turner is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cross is refusing to be controlled, as Turner sits in half guard.
Turner slows the pace down in half guard.
Turner's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Cross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
Cross wants to improve his position but Turner is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Turner moves into full mount! Cross won't be happy about that!

Turner working for a guillotine from mount but Cross is in no mood to give up.
Turner tries to control but Cross wriggling away.
Cross is in all sorts of trouble here.
Turner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Turner putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cross bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Turner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turner has his foot on Cross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cross works his way back into a safe position though.
Turner has a closed guard, preventing Cross from standing up.
Cross being controlled here momentarily.
Turner is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
Cross trying to stand up but can't free himself from Turner's guard.

Turner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cross defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cross trying to stand up but can't free himself from Turner's guard.
Turner seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cross is looking to stand up but Turner won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cross wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lincoln Turner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Turner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lincoln Turner!
Our winner, Lincoln Turner, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.