PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between D Day (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Day
vs
James

195 cm
24
250 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

205 cm
19
280 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, D Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard James!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James checks a leg kick.
James throws the left hand but Day avoids the punch easily.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like D Day has been cut.
James throws a right hand that Day ducks under and follows up with a left that Day also avoids with ease.

Day drops James with a right and a left! Day comes rushing in but James regains his composure and manages to keep Day in guard.

It looks like Richard James has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Day looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Day accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Day trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James keeping moving, preventing Day from controlling successfully.

James is looking for a triangle but Day pushes his legs off easily.
Day stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Day postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

Day drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Day jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Day wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Day looking to pass the guard.
Day thows a big elbow that misses.
Day has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Day slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Day tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Day has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Day is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James tries to bench press Day off him but Day keeps the position.
Day working the head and body with strikes.
James wants to get back to his feet.
Day throws an elbow but James slips to the side and avoids it well.
James tries to escape but Day is in control.

Day is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
Day lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day lands a few punches from side control.
Day working the ground and pound from side control.
James is trying to get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes there by Day.

Day working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
James tries to improve position but can't.

Day working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep.
Day working the head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James wants to get back to his feet but Day drags him back down.
Day wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

D Day dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James tries to bum rush Day with a series of wild strikes but Day uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
D Day is winning the standup battle so far.
Day throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Day fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James tries to bum rush Day with a series of wild strikes but Day uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from James does it's job there.
James throws a series of punches but Day avoids them all with ease.
James misses with the combination.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Day showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Day doesn't succeed with the takedown
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
Day shoots and misses
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Day here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
James works over Day's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Day shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Day shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
D Day is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Day throws a right and a left that both miss.
James jabs at Day's body.
James lands a two punch combo.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Day misses with a takedown attempt
and James counters with a series of strikes. Day will be more careful next time no doubt.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Day moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Day falls off balance throwing a combination
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James lands a jab to Day's midsection.
James throws a series of punches but Day moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Day tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a right hand to the body.
James has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
James steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Day.
Day takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Some wild striking there from James.
Day throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Day misses with a two punch combination.
Day tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Day backing up. Day nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Day shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a left to the body.
Day has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Day has his takedown stuffed
letting James counter with a right hand.
Day shoots and misses
and James counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a series of punches but Day avoids them all with ease.
Day has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Day.
James looks to land a combination but Day avoids it well.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Day tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a right hand to the body.
James scores with a three punch combo!
Richard James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Day closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Day pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Day counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Day has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Day circles away quickly and effectively.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Day misses with a jab, cross combination.
Day with a lazy takedown attempt
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Day.
James is working the combinations to good effect here.
James lands with a straight right. Day didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Day with a poor takedown
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Day wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Day fails with the takedown
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab by James.
D Day seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Day manages to avoid it.
Day with a poor takedown
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James misses with a double jab.
Day takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by James.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Day.
James throws a right hand that Day ducks under and follows up with a left that Day also avoids with ease.
James misses with a double jab.
Day looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Day looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Day throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and James counters with a series of strikes. Day will be more careful next time no doubt.
James throws a series of punches but Day moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James misses the shot to the body.
Day tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Day.
James connects with a right hand. Day shakes it off.
James misses with a double jab.
Day takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Day fails with the takedown
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Day shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Day keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D Day. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Day tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Day is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Day has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a left to the body.
Day tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James punishes Day's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
Day misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
Day dodges the punch combination from James.
James looks to land a combination but Day avoids it well.
Day doesn't succeed with the takedown
and James counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Day with a body punch. A glancing blow.
James dodges the punch combination from Day.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
Day shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Day keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Day fails with a takedown attempt.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Day slips a jab and a cross from James.
James avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
No luck for Day with that takedown attempt.
Good shot there by James.
James looks to land a combination but Day avoids it well.
James takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Day dodges the punch combination from James.
No joy there for Day, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James lands with a hook. Day tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
James lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Day. Day gets slowly back to his feet.
Day fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
James throws a right and a left that Day avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Day shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Day keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Day has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Day. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Day fails with the takedown
and James counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A left lands for Day.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James throws a right and a left that Day avoids nicely.
Day fails with an attempt to clinch.
Day wants to clinch.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Day moves away.

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.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Day shoots in and bounces James off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Day stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Day drops back looking for a leg! James is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and James manages to kick Day off! Day jumps back into James's guard.
James has a closed guard, preventing Day from standing up.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Day is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard James!