PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Connor James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caleb Wiggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Wiggins

187 cm
20
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Caleb Wiggins!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wiggins clobbers James with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Wiggins clinches.
Wiggins wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.

James is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wiggins is just too persistent for him and manages to trip James to the mat. James regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wiggins's guard.
James content to stall in guard here.
Wiggins looking for a sweep. Not yet Wiggins, not yet.
James looking to pass the guard.
Wiggins wants to hit a switch here but James passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Wiggins there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wiggins can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins is desperately trying to improve his position but James has a good base and remains in mount.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wiggins wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands a heavy elbow.
James lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wiggins is trying desperately to improve position.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wiggins tries to buck James off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wiggins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
James avoids the attempt from Wiggins to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Caleb Wiggins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wiggins is trying hard to land a takedown here. James sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wiggins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wiggins throws a low kick but it's checked well by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Caleb Wiggins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wiggins trying to control from the bottom.
James is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Wiggins!
Wiggins wants to control but James is having none of it.
Wiggins tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins is wriggling around trying to escape.
James takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins wants to control but James is having none of it.
Wiggins is trying to stand.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Wiggins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wiggins wants to control but James is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controlling from mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wiggins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches James napping and manages to drive through into side control!
James defending against the ground and pound.
Connor James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and James works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wiggins.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
Wiggins trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James keeping full guard, as Wiggins tries to pass.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Connor James will probably get the nod.
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.

Wiggins works James's body with a nice hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Wiggins!
Wiggins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
Wiggins shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
Wiggins tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

Wiggins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wiggins throws a strike but James avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins is trying to control but James manages to pass to mount!
Wiggins wants to control but James is having none of it.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wiggins tries to hold on but James postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wiggins closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James pulls Wiggins in close to his closed guard and prevents Wiggins from doing any damage or advancing position.
Wiggins trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wiggins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James keeping moving, preventing Wiggins from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Wiggins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wiggins tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb Wiggins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wiggins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb Wiggins!
Our winner, Caleb Wiggins, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.