PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Thames (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trevin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trevin James has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tyson Thames's chin.

Thames
vs
James

185 cm
20
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 London, Tyson Thames!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Trevin James!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thames throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.

Thames scores a takedown into full mount!
Thames avoids the attempt from James to control.
James is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thames lands a nice shot to the head.
Thames prevents James from getting the reversal.
Thames can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to reverse the position but Thames maintains control.

Thames stands up from mount. Strange move.

Thames scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Thames off and has taken his back!
James has the hooks in. Thames is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Thames looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Thames is really stuck here.
James is working the ground and pound. Can Thames escape?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
James throwing damaging strikes from the back! Thames could be in trouble here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thames covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thames controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Thames knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
James has the hooks in. Thames is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
James cracks Thames with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Thames from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Thames is taking damage to the body and head.
James is working the ground and pound. Can Thames escape?
James doesn't have the hooks in and Thames manages to turn into his guard.
James throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
James trying to strike off his back.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thames postures up.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thames works a leg free and moves into half guard.
James wants to control but Thames is keeping busy.
James is trying to stand up here but Thames is controlling him well.
James looks gassed!
Thames tries to pass the half guard into mount. James knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thames sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
James preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Thames stops James from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thames is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Thames is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thames pulls out of a head kick attempt.

James gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thames to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Trevin James will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James doesn't manage to clinch there - Thames circles away.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thames counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James wants to stand up but Thames is controlling him.
James keeping moving, preventing Thames from controlling successfully.
James has his hands on Thames's head, controlling the position.
Thames lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thames connects with a couple of short punches.

Thames stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James shoots and misses

and Thames counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!
James is breathing heavily.
James is trying to stand but he's just given Thames his back.
Thames just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
James takes a big shot to the side of the head.
James is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Thames has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of James's body.
Thames is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thames is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Thames gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Thames gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Thames apologises and we restart here on the feet.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thames pushes him off.
Thames dodges the punch combination from James.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Thames swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thames fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but James is out of range.
James misses with a takedown

and Thames counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in James's guard now.
Tyson Thames has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trevin James.
Thames trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
Thames is working James over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tyson Thames overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thames content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thames looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thames trying to control the position.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thames might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thames tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thames preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James stands up over Thames, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Thames is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thames swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Thames throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Thames dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thames counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
Thames trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Thames prevents James from getting back to his feet.
Thames 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.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James wants to get back to his feet but Thames is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thames trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Thames pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thames drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and James dives on top into guard.
Thames controlling the position.
Thames is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James is in close to Thames's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thames 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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James working the body and head with strikes.
Thames is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked James off and has taken his back!
James controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Thames's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
James breaks Thames's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Thames utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thames had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
Thames pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

James rushes Thames and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thames tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
Thames has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.

James drags the fight down to the ground.
James has a closed guard, preventing Thames from standing up.
Thames postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Thames jumps guard.
Thames utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thames wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thames scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
James is in close to Thames's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Trevin James.
I think James 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!