PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry James (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.

Costa
vs
James

199 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruben Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry James!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James tries for a takedown but Costa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Costa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
James lands a nice looking body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for James.

James drives through with a takedown into Costa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Costa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Costa is trying to control the position but James postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Costa.

Costa is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Costa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
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!
Costa shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Costa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from James does it's job there.
Costa fails to land the takedown.
Costa is breathing heavily.
Costa shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James lands a nice looking kick to the body. Costa takes a step back to recover.

James closes the distance and clinches.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

James closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James manages to break the clinch.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
James fails with the takedown.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Costa sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Costa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Costa gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James is pushing Costa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

James decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James pulls Costa in close to prevent any damage.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Costa throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Costa's guard. Nice move by James!
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Harry James.
An inside leg kick lands from James.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Nice takedown defense from Costa. No joy for James on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a straight right.
Costa misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry James dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Costa cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
James looks for the body kick but Costa saw that one coming.
Costa throws a push kick but James slaps the foot to one side.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Costa, looking for a takedown. James pushes Costa against the cage but Costa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Costa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Costa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Costa throws a leg kick

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
James stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa has James pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. James manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Costa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Costa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Costa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Costa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Costa wants to clinch

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Costa fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Costa after a bit of a struggle.
James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Costa backwards.

James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

James scrambles and gets back to his feet.

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James controlling his opponent.
James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controlling from the full mount.
James throws some wild stikes that Costa manages to avoid easily.
Costa is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Costa bucks and avoids them well.
Costa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Costa has managed to escape the submission attempt.
James controlling from mount.
Costa blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James throws some wild stikes that Costa manages to avoid easily.
Harry James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Costa can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Costa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Costa wants to clinch

and James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by James.
James looking for a takedown.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.

James manages to break the clinch.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Costa tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Costa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Costa moves to clinch but James breaks away

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Costa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ruben Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry James.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Costa on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa blocks a head kick by James.

Costa tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
Costa trying to control the position but instead, James has worked for underhooks and has pushed Costa into the cage.
James is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Costa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costa leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James clinches.

James drags the fight down to the ground.
Costa wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

James has his foot on Costa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Costa works his way back into a safe position though.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is trying to pull guard but James has him pressed against the cage.
James is looking to take this one to the mat.
Costa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

James pulls guard effortlessly.
Costa wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Costa trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Costa has James in his guard.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruben Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harry James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice body kick from James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight for Harry James!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Harry James!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Harry James!

Harry James wins by unanimous decision!