PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Malham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malham comes to the ring accompanied by Amorphis - House of Sleep. Rick James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Malham
vs
James

195 cm
22
222 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
26
214 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Malham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malham misses the shot to the body.
Malham connects with a single shot there.
Malham throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
Malham throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
Malham throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
Malham misses the shot to the body.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malham scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Malham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Malham misses with a straight left.
James moves in looking to clinch but Malham pushes him off.
James is looking to clinch.
Malham looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
Malham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Malham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malham lands with a nice combination. James backs away looking to recover.
James dodges the punch combination from Malham.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Malham circles away.
Malham throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Malham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
John Malham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James tries to clinch there but Malham circles away.
No joy there for Malham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malham lands a body shot.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James tries to clinch there but Malham circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malham closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Malham pushes James against the ropes but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malham misses with a straight left.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Malham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James tries to clinch up.
Malham is looking to wear down James with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

James moves into the clinch.
Malham dodges an elbow strike from James.
Malham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James takes a shot to the head.
James tries to work over Malham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.

Malham manages to break the clinch.
Malham jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Malham throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
Malham lands with a nice combination. James backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Rick James has been cut.
Malham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Malham.
Malham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Malham thows a body shot but no joy.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Malham circles away.
Malham circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malham shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Malham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malham is breathing heavily.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Malham swings for the body but James moves out of range.
James tries to clinch there but Malham circles away.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Malham throws a jab when James was well out of range.

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 moves into range and clinches up with Malham.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James displaying some good clinch control by pressing Malham up against the ropes.
Malham is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James lands a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Malham's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malham.
Malham tries to break free but James pushes him back against the ropes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Malham.
Malham has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
James trying to stall but Malham improves his position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from James.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right hook to the body lands for James.
Malham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James misses with a knee strike.
Knees to the body from James.
James wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Malham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick James's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

James wants to clinch up but Malham keeps it at a distance.
Malham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Malham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Malham.
Malham connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed James momentarily.
James moves in looking to clinch but Malham pushes him off.
Malham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James wants to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James wants to clinch.
Malham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Malham.
Malham swings and misses with a hook to the body.

James takes the fight into the clinch.

Malham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malham looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
Malham tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Malham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Malham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James is looking to clinch.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malham throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Malham closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malham lands with a straight right. James didn't see that one coming.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Malham throws out the jab.
Malham scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Malham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
John Malham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James clinches up against the ropes.
James lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Malham backwards.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Malham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
James misses with a knee to the head.
James cracks Malham with a nice body shot.
A hook to the body from James.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Malham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James cracks Malham with a nice body shot.
James looking to slow down the pace here.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James cracks Malham with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James scores with a hook to the body.
James is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Malham is keeping busy.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Malham prevents a body shot from James.
James is leaning against Malham and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James lands a left hand that snaps the head of Malham backwards.
James is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.
Malham blocks an uppercut.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
James lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Malham.
James lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Knees to the body from James.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee calls for James to work.
James digs a right hand underneath Malham's ribcage. Malham let out a lung full of air as it connected.
James is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
James tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Malham avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as James takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Malham.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
James stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rick James's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Malham misses with a series of wild punches.
Malham misses the shot to the body.
James on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
James wants to clinch up but Malham keeps it at a distance.
Malham closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
James tries to clinch but Malham moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Malham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
James wants to clinch up but Malham keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Malham does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Malham takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
James tries to clinch but Malham moves out of range.
Malham throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
Malham thows a body shot but no joy.
James blocks a jab.
James tries to clinch there but Malham circles away.
Rick James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malham. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malham fails with a takedown attempt.
Malham swats away the attempt to clinch by James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
James wants to clinch.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
James looking to slow down the pace here.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
Malham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
James is trying to maintain a safe position but Malham gets an underhook and turns James into the ropes.
A shot in the inside from Malham.

Malham wants the takedown. James is fighting it off but Malham persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in James's guard against the ropes.
Malham stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Malham trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James wants to stand up but Malham is controlling him.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malham.
Malham 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.
Malham wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James wants to get back to his feet but Malham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Malham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James tries to clinch there but Malham circles away.
Malham throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James is looking to clinch.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
John Malham is winning the standup battle so far.
Malham lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Malham gets tackled into the ropes by James. James maintains the clinch.
Malham working hard to break the clinch.
Malham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James lands a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Malham showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Malham has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Malham!