PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cross's choice of entrance music: Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Emelianenko
vs
Cross

170 cm
19
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Top MMA Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ivan Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Cross!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cross misses the shot to the body.
Cross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cross scores with a takedown into Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position but Cross postures up.
Cross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cross trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Cross stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.
Cross slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cross trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cross avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cross is one step ahead there.
Cross looking to pass the guard.
Cross is stalling in the full guard.
Cross's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Cross decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cross gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cross!
Cross looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Cross is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Emelianenko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cross is surviving well by controlling Emelianenko's body position as best he can.
Cross really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Emelianenko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cross is looking to improve his position but Emelianenko isn't that keen on the idea.

Emelianenko get's back to his feet.
Cross doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is working for a submission of some sort.
Cross is looking to control Emelianenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cross avoid being mounted?
Cross keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Emelianenko is trying to control the action in half guard but Cross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko tries to pass to full mount but Cross defends it.

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cross defends it well.
Cross is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cross moves into full guard.
Cross is trying to keep Emelianenko in close.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Cross is trying to control the position but Emelianenko postures up.
Cross keeping full guard, as Emelianenko tries to pass.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cross wants to sweep here but Emelianenko controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko wants to clinch up but Cross keeps it at a distance.

Cross scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cross content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Emelianenko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cross shoots and misses

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Emelianenko seems to be looking for submissions.
Emelianenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cross slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cross is keeping the position for now.
Cross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cross preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko postures up.
Emelianenko slips nicely into half guard.
Cross is trying to control but can't.
Cross is not content to let Emelianenko control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Cross is having none of it.
Cross misses with a combination

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Cross fights it but they end up in guard.
Cross looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ivan Emelianenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Emelianenko postures up in Cross's guard and throws a big left but Cross blocks it.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emelianenko is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cross is proving hard to escape from.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing.
Emelianenko advances position into side control!
Cross defending against the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Emelianenko feints and as Cross raises his hands in defense, Emelianenko changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko passes into half guard.
Cross is looking to control Emelianenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cross avoid being mounted?

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cross defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cross gets full guard.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cross seems keen to control Emelianenko's posture.
Cross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cross wants to stand but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Cross working a defensive guard here.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emelianenko is one step ahead there.

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

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Cross with a lazy takedown attempt

and Emelianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Emelianenko.

Emelianenko gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cross keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cross wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping busy.
Cross moves into full guard.

Cross working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Emelianenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Emelianenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cross is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Emelianenko frees his head nicely. Oh but Cross has switched to an armbar! Emelianenko is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Chris Cross!