PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Totoy Magtanggol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by W32.Mydoom.AU@mm . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

James
vs
Magtanggol

185 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
162 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Totoy Magtanggol!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James connects with a right hand. Magtanggol shakes it off.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Magtanggol is just out of range.
Magtanggol takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Magtanggol takes the fight into the clinch.
James scores with a hook to the body.
James works on Magtanggol's body with a couple of short punches.
Magtanggol is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Magtanggol pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Magtanggol.
A jab lands there for James.
Magtanggol throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Magtanggol fails with an attempt to clinch.
James lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Magtanggol tries to clinch up.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Magtanggol tries to clinch up.

James scores with a takedown into Magtanggol's guard.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
James seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Magtanggol for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magtanggol tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Magtanggol controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
James content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Magtanggol is trying to work for a sweep but James has mounted him!
James controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Magtanggol tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Magtanggol walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
James is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Magtanggol clinches.
Magtanggol prevents a body shot from James.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from James.
Magtanggol tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
James is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
James stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Magtanggol scores with a knee to the head.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James avoiding damage as Magtanggol throws knees to the body.
Good body shot from James.
Magtanggol crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
Magtanggol is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
Knees to the body from Magtanggol.
James jumps guard but Magtanggol stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Magtanggol has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
Magtanggol stalling against the cage.
Magtanggol is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Magtanggol tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Magtanggol tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.
Magtanggol looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magtanggol pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James lands with a short head shot on the inside.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Magtanggol controls the action.
Magtanggol throws an elbow but it's blocked.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Magtanggol misses with a knee strike.
Magtanggol blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Magtanggol avoiding damage.
James fails to pull guard.

Magtanggol manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Magtanggol does a little dance to reset his feet.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Magtanggol backs up against the cage.

Magtanggol moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to stall.
Magtanggol throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Magtanggol has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Magtanggol walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magtanggol throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Magtanggol throws a right and a left that both miss.
Magtanggol tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Magtanggol takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
James lands a jab to Magtanggol's midsection.
James's corner calls for a 1-2. James obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Magtanggol misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James lands a glancing blow to the side of Magtanggol's head.
Totoy Magtanggol is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magtanggol fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Magtanggol is breathing heavily.
A punch lands to the side of Magtanggol 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Magtanggol misses with an uppercut.
James misses with a body shot.
James digs a good body shot into Magtanggol's ribs.
James scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Magtanggol doesn't seem bothered though.
James lands with a nice body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

James 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.
James seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard James 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

James scores with a shot to the body.
James lands a right hook to the body.
Richard James is winning the standup battle so far.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
A shot to the liver by James. Beautiful body shot.
Decent striking displayed by James there.
James lands with a shot to the body.
James blocks a head kick by Magtanggol.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James digs a good hook to Magtanggol's body.
Magtanggol takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Magtanggol takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James cracks Magtanggol with a right hand to the side of the head.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
James swings for the body but Magtanggol moves out of range.
James connects with a looping right hand.
James scores with a three punch combo!
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by James.
James with a nice cross.
Magtanggol drops his hands momentarily and James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Magtanggol wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Magtanggol on the side of the head.
Totoy Magtanggol has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Totoy Magtanggol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James digs a good hook to Magtanggol's body.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
James lands with a nice body punch.
James thuds his right hand into Magtanggol's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Magtanggol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Magtanggol takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Magtanggol ducks right into an uppercut from James.
Nice body punch from James.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Magtanggol takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
James fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Magtanggol on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magtanggol takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
James connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
James cracks Magtanggol with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Magtanggol on the wrong end of a nice hook.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
Richard James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Magtanggol. Magtanggol circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
James is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Magtanggol is looking to clinch.
Magtanggol keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James thows a body shot but no joy.

Magtanggol moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magtanggol trying to stall but James improves his position.
Magtanggol has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
James stalling against the cage.

Magtanggol breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James is looking to wear down Magtanggol with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A jab from James finds it's way through Magtanggol's defenses.
James ducks under a wild hook from Magtanggol.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Richard James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James jabs Magtanggol right on the nose. Magtanggol blinks but takes it well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts James, as that shot connected.
Magtanggol fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Magtanggol falls off balance throwing a combination
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James cracks Magtanggol with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26

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