PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keimah Dama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Calia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dama's entrance music is Seek n Destroy. A fine choice. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Dama
vs
Calia

184 cm
24
183 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keimah Dama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Calia!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dama closes the distance and pushes Calia back into the cage.
Dama has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Calia dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dama is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dama is struggling to control the position.
Calia blocks a body shot from Dama.
Dama is looking to control Calia's arms but Calia gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dama has his back to the cage.
Dama is trying to force a seperation but Calia has the dominant position.
Dama fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Calia gets control of Dama's arms and successfully pulls guard. Calia will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dama prevents Calia from getting back to his feet.

Calia has his feet on Dama's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Calia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calia tries to land knees in the clinch but Dama avoids the damage to the body.
Dama tries to throw a body punch but Calia avoids it by throwing Dama back against the cage.
Dama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Calia prevents it.
Dama throws a punch but it's blocked by Calia.

Calia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Calia moves into the clinch successfully.
Dama can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keimah Dama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dama has had enough of the clinch but Calia keeps him there for the moment.
Dama fails to pull guard.
Dama drops down looking for an ankle pick but Calia pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Calia looks to land a left hand but Dama moved out of range nicely.
Calia tries to clinch but Dama moves out of range.
Calia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Calia throws a body punch but Dama moves out of range.
Calia shoots in for a takedown but Dama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dama lands a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dama throws a right and a left that Calia avoids nicely.

Dama closes the distance and clinches.
Dama trying to land knees to the body.
Calia tries for a takedown but Dama manages to get underhooks.
Dama is trying to pull guard but Calia has him pressed against the cage.
Calia prevents Dama from breaking the clinch.
Calia lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Calia unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dama lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dama is looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Calia.

It looks like Keimah Dama has been cut.
Calia landing knees to the head.
Dama misses with a punch on the inside.
Calia tries to land a knee to the head but Dama blocks with his arms.
Dama looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dama is trying to push Calia away but Calia has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dama is trying to break the clinch but Calia is controlling him.
Calia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dama takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dama is breathing heavily.
Dama is trying to break the clinch but Calia is controlling him.
Calia missing with knees to the body.
Dama fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calia keeps control of Dama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Calia lands an elbow inside.
Dama prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dama tries to stall but Calia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Calia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dama smiles and moves away.

Dama has closed the distance and engaged Calia in a clinch.
Calia lands a nice elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Calia breaks the clinch.
Dama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Calia misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Calia will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keimah Dama's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Calia tries to clinch there but Dama circles away.
Dama misses with the combination.

Calia darts in and clinches Dama up against the cage.
Calia has Dama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dama tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Calia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dama is trying to break the clinch but Calia has him pressed against the cage.
James Calia seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Calia pulls guard.
Dama won't allow Calia to get back to his feet.
Calia keeping moving, preventing Dama from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dama decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Calia is defended easily by Dama.
Dama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Calia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Calia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dama, pushing him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Calia as Dama tries to tie him up.
Dama has Calia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Calia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Calia breaks from the clinch.
Keimah Dama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dama throws a right hand that Calia ducks under and follows up with a left that Calia also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dama avoids it really well and circles away.
Keimah Dama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Calia.

Dama has managed to clinch.
Dama has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Calia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Calia lands an elbow just above Dama 's eye.

Calia breaks the clinch.
Dama throws a series of punches but Calia moves out of range.
Dama shoots for a double leg takedown but Calia sprawls well. He's pushed Dama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Calia has managed to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Calia is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dama wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calia misses with a knee strike.
Dama working hard to break the clinch.
Calia is looking for a takedown.
Dama is trying to break free.
Dama throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Calia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dama throws a wild body kick that Calia sees coming a mile off.
Calia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dama.

Dama darts in and clinches Calia up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Calia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dama pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dama is trying to break the clinch but Calia is controlling him.
Calia is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Calia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dama prevents it.
Dama looking for a takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dama jumps guard but Calia stands there with Dama around his waist. Dama gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Calia breaks from the clinch.
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 Keimah Dama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keimah Dama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Calia but Calia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Calia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Calia tries to clinch up but Dama circles away and keeps his distance.
Dama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dama lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A combination from Dama does no damage.
Calia chopping away at his opponent's legs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A knee to the head by Calia.
Dama fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keimah Dama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calia is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calia is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dama trying to land knees to the body.
Calia scores with a knee to the head.

Calia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calia throws a series of punches but Dama avoids them all with ease.

Dama closes the distance and clinches.
Dama is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Calia tries to pull guard but Dama won't allow it.
Calia lands a knee to the head.
Dama is looking to break free of the clinch but Calia has double underhooks.
Calia is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Calia landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Calia has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dama avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calia gets control of Dama's arms and successfully pulls guard. Calia will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dama has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Calia is proving hard to escape from.

Calia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dama off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Calia is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dama.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dama shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Calia pinned against the cage. Calia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Calia tries a head kick but it misses.
Calia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Dama!

Calia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dama wants to get back to striking at distance but Calia won't allow it.
Dama tries to stall but Calia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Calia prevents Dama from breaking the clinch.

Calia jumps into guard, dragging Dama to the mat.

Dama stands up from Calia's guard - Dama perhaps looking for a knockout.
Calia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dama circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calia tries to close the distance and clinch but Dama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Calia instigates a clinch.
Dama misses with a punch on the inside.
Dama jumps guard but Calia turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dama wants to break free but Calia has control.
Dama tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dama pulls guard successfully.
Calia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Dama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Calia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Calia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Calia decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dama, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Keimah Dama.
I think Dama 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Calia!
A relieved looking James Calia thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.