PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Terrell James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James's entrance music is Numb. A fine choice. Monroe is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Deep Ocean - Island drumming. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

James
vs
Monroe

165 cm
26
139 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

166 cm
19
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Worldwide Nutrition (160q)
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Terrell James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Monroe shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Monroe gets back to full guard.
Our spies down at at Holding Cell inform us that Monroe has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Monroe wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Monroe controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James forces his way into half guard.
James wants to take a breather but Monroe is having none of it.
Monroe is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Monroe keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is keen to just control but Monroe is a slippery customer.
Monroe is trying to get back to full guard.
Monroe won't allow James to pass to mount.
Monroe wants to control but James is keeping busy.
James wants to take a breather but Monroe is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Monroe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Monroe defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Monroe shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Monroe on that attempt.
Terrell James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Monroe.
Nice defenses there by James.

Monroe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Monroe slows the pace down.
James tries to improve position but can't.
An elbow from Monroe crashes against the mat.
James sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Monroe stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James wants to get back to his feet.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Monroe.
James wants to get back to his feet.
Monroe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Monroe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Monroe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Monroe wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
James wants to get back to full guard.
Monroe prevents James from standing back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Monroe.
Well, if Monroe is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Monroe's guard.
Monroe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Monroe moves into full mount! James won't be happy about that!
Monroe lands a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monroe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. James looks a forlorn figure.
Monroe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James fails to land the takedown.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Monroe as he avoids it easily.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Monroe defends well and James ends up having to push Monroe into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Monroe with the counter takedown but James avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terrell James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Monroe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. James looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Monroe lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Monroe lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ricky Monroe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Monroe trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
Monroe scoring with punches from side control.

James is rocked!
James takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Oh James is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Monroe lands a few punches from side control.
Monroe scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh James is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Monroe can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricky Monroe!
Ricky Monroe took some time post fight to say the following; 'Nice threads, but nothing else. Im pissed about my first fight, that lucky bastard! '.
In defeat, Terrell James stepped up to the mic, saying 'He is a tough fighter. But I will come back stronger and defeat him in a rematch!'.