PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noa Therm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes into the arena with Biscuits & Gravy blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Therm

188 cm
30
272 lbs
6 - 14 - 0

202 cm
26
280 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Noa Therm!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Therm throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Therm slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Some wild striking there from James.

Therm fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Therm throws a knee to the head but misses.
James avoiding damage as Therm throws knees to the body.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that James has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
James throws a head punch that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knees to the body from Therm.
Therm landing knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Therm is trying to stall.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Therm.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Therm won't allow it.
Therm stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Therm's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Therm tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Therm holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Therm blocking some punches.
Therm taking a breather.
Therm lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
James is breathing heavily.
Therm with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Therm pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Noa Therm.

Therm darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Therm is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Therm tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James lands a shoulder strike.
Therm displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
Therm taking a breather.
Therm has James pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Noa Therm.

James closes the distance and clinches.
Therm tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
James wants to break free but Therm has control.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
James wants to break free but Therm has control.
James being controlled against the cage.
James lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Therm trying to stall but James improves his position.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Therm has double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Therm misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
James is trying to break the clinch but Therm is controlling him.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James is trying to push Therm away but Therm has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Therm dodges an elbow strike from James.
Therm using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Therm taking a breather.
Therm using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've been informed that Therm has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Therm trying to land knees to the body.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Therm leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Therm using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Therm misses with an elbow over the top.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bubba James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Therm circles away.
Therm throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Therm closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Therm is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
James lands with a short shot to the head.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Therm uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Therm's elbow.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Therm taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Therm blocks a body shot from James.
Therm unloads a knee to the mid-section.
James misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noa Therm dominated that round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Therm just leaning against James, taking a breather.
Therm tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Therm lands an elbow just above James 's eye.

It looks like Bubba James has been cut.
Therm scores a nice knee to the body.
Therm looking to stall.
Therm effectively controlling the action here.
Therm looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Therm working James over with knees to the body.
Therm avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Therm controls his hands.
Therm is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Therm misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Therm is breathing heavily.
A left hand lands to the body for James.

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

James moves into the clinch.
Therm tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.

James lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James working Therm over with strikes.
Therm is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
James has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
James fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Noa Therm has been cut.
James landing strikes from the mount.
James looking to finish Therm with some ground and pound. This is bad for Therm!
Therm is bucking up trying to escape but James cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
James putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Therm is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Therm is desperately trying to improve his position but James has a good base and remains in mount.
Therm is still in real trouble! Can James finish him?
James lands a big shot to the head and Therm winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Bubba James!