PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stand King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
King

177 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
136 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, John James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stand King!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. King is in James's guard.
King working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
King trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
King throws a big right hand that misses.
King scoring with punches to the head and 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.
King working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James is breathing heavily.
King would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
King working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
King cracks James with a solid left hand.
King throwing strikes but missing.
King postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
King with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James has a closed guard, preventing King from standing up.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.

King gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.
King shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.

King changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. James looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
King landing a few strikes.
King works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
King working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
King landing a few strikes.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

King has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
King shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
John James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stand King.
James swings for the body but King moves out of range.
King shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
King fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
King trying to pass the guard but James defending well.
King is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
King wants to stand up but James is controlling the position.
King with the ground and pound but James uses the opportunity to regain guard.
King throws a big elbow that misses.
King trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
King throwing strikes but missing.
King postures up.
King throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James working a defensive guard here.
King lands a couple of digs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stand King dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by King.
King lands a few punches from side control.
King is working James over with some ground and pound from side control.
James defending against the ground and pound.
King working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
James taking a bit of punishment here - King scoring with strikes.
James is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
King lands an elbow.

King decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James tries a head kick but it misses.

King closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. James quickly recovers to half guard.
James gets full guard.
King must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
King throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King wants to stand but James is controlling his posture from full guard.

King gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King working the ground and pound effectively.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
King is landing with some decent strikes but James is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
King fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! King connects with a massive shot to the dome!
King punishing his opponent with strikes.
King throws some wild stikes that James manages to avoid easily.
King postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. James looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
King with good strikes from the mount here!
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
King looking to ground and pound but James is blocking nicely.
James blocking the ground and pound.
King throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
King dominating with strikes here.
The referee warns James that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
King dominating with strikes here.
James tries to hold on but King postures up.
BOOM! King connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but James slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.

King stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King fails with the takedown.
John James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stand King.
Nice sprawl there from James as King shoots in.
King is trying hard to land a takedown here. James sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
King shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. King gets slowly back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stand King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

King fails with a takedown attempt.
James misses with a straight right.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

King bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
King landing strikes.
King misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
James defending against the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by King.
James taking punishment in the form of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
King working the ground and pound but James is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
King grinds an elbow into James's temple.
King misses with the ground and pound.
King looks up at the clock and then as James takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, King smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
King misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
James tries to improve position but can't.
King in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The ground and pound from King seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

King stands up and beckons James to his feet.
King shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stand King.
King shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stand King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
Stand King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from James as King shoots in.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
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 leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James misses with a wild body shot.
James cracks King with a right hand to the side of the head.

King closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into James's guard.
King wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
John James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James has momentary wrist control but King slips an elbow through the middle.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stand King has got the better of the ground game so far.
King is stalling in the full guard.
James keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Stand King.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a takedown
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
King shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stand King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
King defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
King shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a body shot.

King is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in James's half guard.
James throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stand King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got King winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stand King!