PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeca Ralho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeca Ralho will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

James
vs
Ralho

188 cm
21
212 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

215 cm
27
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zeca Ralho!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ralho looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Ralho throws a right and a left that both miss.
James has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ralho connects with a crisp jab.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ralho misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James is looking to counter the offense by Ralho and move into the clinch.
Ralho throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
James appears to be looking for a big counter.
James shoots in for a takedown but Ralho shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
James moves in looking to clinch but Ralho pushes him off.
A little jabbing left from Ralho on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

James darts in and clinches Ralho up against the cage.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ralho pulls him back up using the underhooks.
James tries to pull guard but Ralho holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ralho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ralho lands a jab to the head.
Ralho getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ralho swings for the body but James moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

James rushes Ralho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James has Ralho pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ralho manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ralho is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ralho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James wants to take the fight to the mat but Ralho manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

James pulls guard successfully.
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ralho wants to stand and escape but instead James has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

James postures up in Ralho's guard and throws a big left but Ralho blocks it.
Ralho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

James stands and steps away. Ralho gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ralho is pushing James's head away, looking to escape. James manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ralho is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.

James is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ralho has escaped the position, nice work there.

James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
James misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ralho is pushing James's head away, looking to escape. James manages to hold on to the position though.

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from James crashes against the mat.
Ralho tries to escape but James is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.
James is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ralho will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
James misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ralho keeps working.
Ralho is looking to reverse the position.
Ralho managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by James.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James tries for a kimura but Ralho is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. Ralho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ralho moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
James tries to clinch but Ralho moves out of range.
Ralho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James is looking to counter punch.
James dives in for a single leg takedown but Ralho sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ralho throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by James.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ralho fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ralho lands a right hook to the body.
Ralho scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ralho fails to land with a series of punches.
James shoots in but Ralho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ralho unleashes a big counter combination but James bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A countering left hand to the body from Ralho misses.

James throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ralho tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. James is in Ralho's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James pushing down on Ralho's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
James throws a strike but Ralho avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James landing with the ground and pound.

Ralho pushes James off and gets back to his feet.
Zeca Ralho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ralho misses with a body shot.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Ralho lands a jab-cross combination.
Zeca Ralho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

James clinches up with Ralho and pushes him back against the cage.
James is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ralho gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ralho controlling the action here for a moment.
Ralho pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James avoiding damage as Ralho throws knees to the body.
James tries to pull guard but Ralho won't allow it.
Ralho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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 keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ralho's efforts to push away.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ralho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
James is trying to pull guard but Ralho turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Ralho is fighting off a takedown attempt but James is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ralho to the mat. Ralho regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ralho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
James won't allow Ralho to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James postures up in Ralho's guard and throws a big left but Ralho blocks it.
James wants to pass the guard but Ralho is keeping the position.
James throwing strikes but missing.
James throws a big elbow that misses.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James advances position into side control!

James is trying to get an arm triangle but Ralho is defending well.
Alex James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ralho is looking to work his way out of this bad position but James is controlling him well.

James is trying to get an arm triangle but Ralho is defending well.
James laying and praying for a moment but Ralho takes advantage and regains half guard.
Ralho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zeca Ralho will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

No joy there for Ralho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ralho throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ralho is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Ralho circles away and we're back to standing.
Ralho's coach down at Fokai Academy was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ralho's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
James moves away from the strike by Ralho.
A jab from Ralho does it's job there.
Ralho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and James counters by clinching up.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ralho is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ralho.
Ralho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ralho is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ralho looking for a takedown.
James stalling in the clinch.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ralho just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ralho tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
Alex James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeca Ralho.

James tightens his grip and picks Ralho up, before dumping him to the ground. Ralho manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Ralho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ralho is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and James dives into side control.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
James throws an elbow but Ralho slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ralho is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
James is looking to take a break and control but Ralho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ralho isn't going anywhere.
James lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws an elbow but Ralho slips to the side and avoids it well.

James is trying to get an arm triangle but Ralho is defending well.
James scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ralho to see if he's OK.
James trying to control the position but Ralho is working away.
James misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ralho wants to get back to his feet but James drags him back down.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ralho, who protects the arm well.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ralho can do to turn this around?
James is putting a hurting on Ralho here, landing some big shots from side control.
James working the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
James looks up at the clock and then as Ralho takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, James smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex James!
A very excited looking Alex James made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.