PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Will Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rook kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Shinedown-Simple Man. 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.

Rook
vs
James

178 cm
22
217 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
210 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Will Rook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rusty James!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Rook. Rook gets slowly back to his feet.
James throws a hook to the side of Rook's head but Rook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rook takes one on the button.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from James misses.
Rook moves out of range of the strikes.
Rook goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
James tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rook throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Donk. James catches Rook right on the button with a cross.
Rook throws a leg kick but James checks it.
Rook looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rook throws a half hearted mid kick.
James loads up on a big right hand but Rook slips the punch.
Rook tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
Rook throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Rook takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rook scores with a leg kick.
Rook misses with a body kick.
Rook lands a leg kick that knocks James off balance momentarily.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
James leaves Rook with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rook lands a nice leg kick that just misses James's sensitive parts.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Rook is just out of range.
James takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rook lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Rusty James has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rook throws the kick towards the body but James avoids it.
Rook scores with a leg kick.
James looks gassed!
James has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rook.
James throws a looping overhand right but Rook ducks down to avoid it.
James moves out of range as Rook throws a body kick.
James throws a hook to the side of Rook's head but Rook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from James misses

and Rook counters by clinching up.

Rook works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rook lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rook working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
James working a defensive guard here.
Rook scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rook postures up.
Rook scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Rook is proving a slippery customer.
Rook scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rook throwing strikes but missing.

Rook is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rook with a flurry of punches that miss.
James wants to get back to his feet but Rook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rook trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rook is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Rook stopping the sweep attempt from James.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rook working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Rook dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rusty James's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James throws a lazy right hand but Rook sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Donk. James catches Rook right on the button with a cross.
Rook misses with a body kick.
Rook throws the kick towards the body but James avoids it.
Rook is looking to land body kicks.
James blocks a head kick by Rook.
Will Rook is winning the standup battle so far.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rook looks to land a body kick but James moved away.
A good leg kick by Rook.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rook throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rook throws a head kick but James moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rook throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rook throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rook looking to land some kicks to the body here.
James looks to land a left hand but Rook moved out of range nicely.
Rook moves away from the strike by James.
Rook chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before James can pounce on him.
Rook is looking to slow James down with leg kicks.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Rook.
A clash of legs there as James blocks the low kick.
Rook fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rook throws a nice inside leg kick.
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!
Rook throws a quick inside leg kick.
James is breathing heavily.
James blocks a leg kick.
Rook connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Rook clinches up against the cage.
Rook crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
Rook has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James is trying to break free.
Rook tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Rook landing knees to the head.
Rook with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries a knee to the head but Rook blocks it.
Rook missing with knees to the body.
Rook lands a knee to the body.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
Rook creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.
Rook missing with knees to the body.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!

That has opened up Rusty James's cut even more.

Rook pulls guard effortlessly.
James trying to control but Rook is working from the bottom.
Rook lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for James!
Rook working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rook cracks James with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Will Rook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James tries to lock up and control but Rook gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rook lands with some strikes.
Rook in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

James is rocked!

Rook with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
James is still in real trouble! Can Rook finish him?
James is trying desperately to improve position.
Rook loads up with a big shot that hurts James! He's pulled Rook in close but Rook has postured up and lands more strikes. Can James survive? More strikes from Rook and James is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Will Rook!
Will Rook was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.