PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liha Rekka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rekka
vs
James

202 cm
29
220 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

185 cm
30
204 lbs
18 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liha Rekka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rekka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rekka wants it to stay on the feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rekka.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James working Rekka over with strikes.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rekka defending well though.
James drops an elbow to the side of Rekka's head.
James thows a huge punch but Rekka dodges it nicely.
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 sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rekka defending well though.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rekka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James thows a huge punch but Rekka dodges it nicely.
Rekka blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rekka defending well though.
James winds up and cracks Rekka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rekka is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from James.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rekka regains full guard. Nicely done.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rekka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rekka keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Rekka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rekka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James prevents Rekka from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rekka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James lands a couple of elbows.
Rekka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James is working Rekka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James won't allow Rekka to get back to his feet.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
James throwing strikes but missing.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Rekka trying to control the position here.
Rekka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.
James working some strikes from top position.
Rekka keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rekka wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
James stands up over Rekka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James works over Rekka with some ground and pound from guard.
Rekka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James distracts Rekka with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James is working Rekka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James is in close to Rekka's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James passes Rekka's left leg - he's now in half guard.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
James works his way into side control.

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rekka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rekka is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but James has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James working the head and body with strikes.
Check out the look on James's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rekka defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

James keeps the fight on the outside.
Rekka scores with a spinning back kick!
Rekka digs a good hook to James's body.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James shoots in and drives through. Rekka sprawls well.
Rekka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James throws a right hand that Rekka ducks under and follows up with a left that Rekka also avoids with ease.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rekka avoids it really well and circles away.
Liha Rekka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex James.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Rekka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rekka throws a nice inside leg kick.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Rekka sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Rekka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka misses with a wild combination.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rekka has James up against the cage in a clinch.
Rekka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rekka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rekka with a knee to the head.
Rekka lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
James is breathing heavily.
James is looking for a takedown.
Rekka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
Rekka with a knee to the head.
Rekka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
James takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rekka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Our sources have told us that Rekka has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekka prevents the takedown attempt.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rekka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rekka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rekka lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
James throws a series of punches but Rekka avoids them all with ease.
Liha Rekka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rekka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

James has gone for a leg lock! Rekka slips out almost immediately though and dives into James's guard.
Alex James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rekka won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Rekka not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rekka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

James uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rekka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Liha Rekka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rekka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rekka fails with an attempt to clinch.
James dives in and grabs Rekka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rekka pushes down on James's head and hops out.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James walks into a left hand.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rekka.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rekka tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rekka to the ground. Rekka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rekka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a hook.
James throws a series of punches but Rekka moves out of range.
Rekka darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Rekka into the cage.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Alex James has been cut.
A short uppercut from Rekka.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rekka with a knee to the head.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rekka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rekka is working James over against the cage.
Rekka stalls.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Rekka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rekka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liha Rekka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex James's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
A jab from James does it's job there.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rekka pinned against the cage. Rekka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liha Rekka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex James.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rekka swivels and escapes.
Rekka wants to clinch.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rekka tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rekka to the ground. Rekka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Liha Rekka is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick lands from Rekka.
Rekka moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Rekka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka lands with a slapping head kick.
Rekka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

James is rocked!
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rekka.
James is still on wobbly legs! Can Rekka finish him?
James backs away from a small jab... but Rekka lunges forward with a huge superman punch! James crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Rekka with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Liha Rekka!