PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rip James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Cherry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James's entrance music is What's the difference. A fine choice. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

James
vs
Cherry

194 cm
26
266 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

194 cm
26
257 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Buzzkill
Buzzkill

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rip James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pete Cherry!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A big right from James misses.
James moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from James misses.
Cherry connects with the punch.
Cherry pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James swings for the body but Cherry moves out of range.

James gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cherry has escaped the position, nice work there.
James throws an elbow but Cherry slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cherry dodges the ground and pound from James.
James in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
James in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cherry prevents James from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James advances nicely into full mount.
James throws some wild stikes that Cherry manages to avoid easily.
Cherry keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Cherry that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like Pete Cherry has been cut.
James looking to land elbow strikes but Cherry uses the position to regain half guard.
Cherry moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cherry tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.
James is keen to just control but Cherry is a slippery customer.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cherry's head.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big left from Cherry misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James misses with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cherry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cherry.
Cherry connects with a looping right hand.
Rip James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cherry throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pete Cherry's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cherry as he jumps to the side.
Cherry uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
James slips a jab from Cherry.
Cherry looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cherry moves into range and connects with a jab.
James tries a low kick but Cherry avoids it.
James staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cherry to score with a decent uppercut.
A swing and a miss from James.
James throws a right and a left that Cherry avoids nicely.
Cherry jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James defending well as Cherry loads up on a big left hand.

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.
Cherry moves out of range of the strikes.
Cherry throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
A big right from James misses.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cherry defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James slips a jab from Cherry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cherry.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
James misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
James throws a hook but Cherry avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A jab from Cherry misses.
Cherry takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That has opened up Pete Cherry's cut even more.
Cherry displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
James throws a right and a left that Cherry avoids nicely.
James doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James slips under a jab.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pete Cherry will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pete Cherry's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cherry sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed James's guard.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
Cherry makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cherry is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cherry gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cherry manages to get himself to full guard.
James preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cherry 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.
James throws a strike but Cherry rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cherry wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Cherry misses the target.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cherry trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
James wants to take a breather but Cherry is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cherry to regain full guard.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
James wants to take a breather but Cherry is having none of it.
James throws a strike but Cherry avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Cherry looking for a sweep. Not yet Cherry, not yet.

That's four 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.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cherry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James is pushing down on Cherry's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cherry is fighting to maintain full guard but James has managed to sneak the leg through.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cherry defending well though.
James thows a huge punch but Cherry dodges it nicely.
James trying to mount his opponent but Cherry defends it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cherry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cherry shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Cherry finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
James wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pete Cherry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cherry 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rip James!