PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arnold Fortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Fortez
vs
James

182 cm
25
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
187 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arnold Fortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrei James!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fortez to the mat! Fortez manages to get full guard.
Fortez is trying to hold James in close to prevent damage but James has managed to pass into half guard.
Fortez trying to control but James postures up.
Fortez tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
Fortez is breathing heavily.
Fortez is not content to let James control the position.
Fortez is trying to control but can't.

James is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fortez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fortez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fortez's head.
James is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Fortez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from James.
James trying to control but Fortez is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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 tries to stand but Fortez is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andrei James.
Fortez throws a left and a right that both miss

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Fortez didn't expect that.
Fortez has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.
James won't allow Fortez to sweep him here.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Fortez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fortez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Fortez has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
Fortez is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James stays in close to Fortez's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Fortez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fortez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
James tries to clinch up

and Fortez counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fortez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Fortez stands up and waves to James to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrei James will probably get the nod.
That's time! Fortez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fortez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fortez working away.
Fortez wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fortez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fortez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

James actively working from the bottom here.
Fortez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James is looking to control Fortez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can James avoid being mounted?
James is looking to improve his position.

Fortez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
James shoots and misses

and Fortez counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
James is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Fortez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, James has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Fortez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but James sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Fortez decides to stand back up. Fortez steps back and let's James get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from James.
Fortez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fortez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fortez distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fortez stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Fortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fortez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fortez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
James wants to get back to full guard.

Fortez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fortez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and James counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Fortez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fortez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fortez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fortez wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James is trying to stand back up but Fortez is controlling him
Fortez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
James is controlling Fortez's trapped leg to prevent Fortez from advancing to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Still in half guard, Fortez seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Arnold Fortez.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fortez counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fortez content to stall in guard here.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fortez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Fortez won't allow James to sweep him here.
Fortez content to stall in guard here.

We're going to have a standup here because Arnold Fortez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fortez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fortez showed some decent athleticism there.
Well, if Fortez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
James wants to sweep but Fortez has passed to side control!
Fortez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt James will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

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.
Fortez trying to control the position but James is working away.
Fortez controlling the position from side mount.
Fortez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Fortez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down James's shoulder. That is not cool.
Fortez moves into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnold Fortez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fortez 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnold Fortez!