PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akeem Kipligati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cross
vs
Kipligati

170 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aaron Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akeem Kipligati!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cross closes the distance and clinches.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kipligati has a couple of punches blocked by Cross.
Kipligati wants a takedown.
Kipligati is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cross is defending well.
Cross lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kipligati swings wildly with an uppercut but Cross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cross lands with a right to the head.
Kipligati swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.
Cross content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cross prevents the takedown attempt.
Aaron Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akeem Kipligati.
Cross prevents Kipligati from breaking the clinch.
Cross scores with a shoulder strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kipligati trying to stall but Cross improves his position.
Kipligati throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cross blocks it with crossed arms.
Cross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kipligati's efforts to push away.
A short right from Cross.
A short body shot lands from Cross as the two fighters clinch.
Cross scores with a shot to the side of Kipligati's head.
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kipligati tries a body shot but Cross blocks it.
Cross keeps control of Kipligati as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kipligati tries to stall but Cross uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kipligati throws an elbow but misses.
Kipligati trying to control the position but instead, Cross has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kipligati into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kipligati misses with a punch on the inside.
Cross prevents a body shot from Kipligati.
Kipligati wants a takedown but no success here.
Cross creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cross lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cross stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short left from Cross.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cross.
Kipligati throws an elbow but it misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cross - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cross lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kipligati is working for takedown but Cross is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kipligati tries to land knees in the clinch but Cross avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kipligati trying to land knees to the body.
Cross slowing the pace effectively.
A right hook to the body lands for Cross.
Cross blocks the elbow strike.
Kipligati goes for a takedown attempt but Cross pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kipligati looks gassed!
Kipligati is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kipligati tries to keep at a distance but Cross has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kipligati tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cross's elbow.
Kipligati tries to pull guard but Cross holds him up against the cage and eventually Kipligati drops back down to his feet.
Cross is pushing Kipligati up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kipligati jumps guard but Cross stands there with Kipligati around his waist. Kipligati gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kipligati trying to control the position but instead, Cross has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kipligati into the cage.
Cross slowing the pace effectively.
Kipligati looking to stall.
A short right from Cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kipligati misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kipligati looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cross working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Cross scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Cross dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Cross does it's job there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kipligati.
Kipligati fails with a takedown attempt.
Cross tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kipligati was well out of range. Poor timing from Cross.
Cross avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cross lands a jab to the nose.
Akeem Kipligati seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kipligati takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kipligati keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kipligati throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
A jab lands there for Cross.
Kipligati drops his hands momentarily and Cross takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A big left from Cross misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kipligati. Cross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kipligati gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cross counters with a left to the body.
Aaron Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akeem Kipligati.
Kipligati changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cross tries to avoid it but Kipligati manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cross to the ground. Cross escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kipligati is breathing heavily.
Cross lands a slapping body shot.
Kipligati gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cross counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cross jabs Kipligati right on the nose. Kipligati blinks but takes it well.
Cross lands with a nice body punch.
Kipligati misses with a hook.

Kipligati shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cross napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cross is looking for a sweep.
Cross knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kipligati on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cross manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cross is trying to get back to full guard.
Kipligati throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kipligati throwing shots but Cross is blocking nicely.
Cross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kipligati is working away from the top position though.
Kipligati wants to pass the guard but Cross is defending well.
Cross is looking for a sweep. Kipligati is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to kick Kipligati off but Kipligati keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cross is trying to control but can't.
Kipligati thows a huge punch but Cross dodges it nicely.
Kipligati thows a huge punch but Cross dodges it nicely.
Kipligati not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cross is not content to let Kipligati control the position.
Cross is looking to improve his position.
Cross wants to control but Kipligati is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cross tries to get out of the position.

Kipligati is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cross doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kipligati.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cross trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kipligati manages to pass to mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cross tries to buck Kipligati off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Cross dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Cross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kipligati manages to avoid it.
Kipligati fails with the takedown
letting Cross counter with a right hand.
Cross slaps away a takedown attempt from Kipligati, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kipligati shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cross as he avoids it easily.
Aaron Cross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akeem Kipligati.
Cross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kipligati's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cross connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kipligati scrambles back to his feet.
A nice combination there by Cross.
Cross lands with a good body shot.
Kipligati misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cross swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kipligati dives in and scores a takedown into Cross's guard.
Kipligati takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kipligati stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kipligati trying to control but Cross is working from the bottom.
Kipligati has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aaron Cross.
Kipligati thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kipligati misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kipligati rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cross throws out a loose jab but Kipligati uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kipligati waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cross.
A jab from Cross finds it's way through Kipligati's defenses.
Aaron Cross is winning the standup battle so far.

Kipligati closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kipligati lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cross keeping moving, preventing Kipligati from controlling successfully.
Akeem Kipligati has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kipligati pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cross is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kipligati is one step ahead there.
Kipligati looking to pass the guard.
Cross working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kipligati.
Cross working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kipligati.
Cross is controlling Kipligati's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aaron Cross.
Kipligati throws out a loose jab but Cross uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cross keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cross swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cross connects with a body shot that sends Kipligati's belly button to the back.

Cross moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kipligati stalling in the clinch but Cross improves position.
A short uppercut from Cross.
Cross lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kipligati or not.
Kipligati tries to stall but Cross uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aaron Cross.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cross, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Aaron Cross!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Aaron Cross!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Aaron Cross!

Aaron Cross wins by unanimous decision!