PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Villarreal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Break Orbit by CFO$ as his entrance music. Steve James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Villarreal
vs
James

179 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodney Villarreal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve James!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villarreal tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Villarreal somewhat.
Villarreal misses with the combination.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Villarreal drives through with a takedown into guard.

James is working an open guard so Villarreal takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Villarreal tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
James tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Villarreal defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is keen to just control but Villarreal is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Villarreal defends the submission attempt.
James trying to control the action but Villarreal is working from the bottom.
Villarreal is looking to escape.
Villarreal trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Villarreal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Villarreal is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Villarreal is refusing to be controlled, as James sits in half guard.
James throwing shots but Villarreal is blocking nicely.
Villarreal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

Villarreal kicks off James and gets to his feet.

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 is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Villarreal has escaped the position, nice work there.
James happy to just control the position for now.
James wants to stand but Villarreal has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to take a break and control but Villarreal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Villarreal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Villarreal is trying to improve his position.
James working away.
Villarreal taking punishment in the form of punches.

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 trying to control the position but Villarreal is working away.
Villarreal is trying to get back to his feet.

James stands up and we're back to a striking position.

James throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Villarreal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. James is in Villarreal's guard.
James cracks Villarreal with a solid left hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Villarreal holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Villarreal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villarreal.
James throws a leg kick

and Villarreal counters by clinching up.

James has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Villarreal is trying to keep an underhook but James manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Villarreal is positioning himself well to prevent James advancing to mount.

James is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Villarreal is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villarreal wants to control but James passes into side.
Villarreal is not content to let James control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to move to mount but Villarreal reverses beautifully and ends up in James's guard.
James is trying to keep Villarreal in close.
Villarreal preventing the sweep.
Villarreal wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.
Villarreal could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

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.

Villarreal gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.
Steve James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Villarreal tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Villarreal tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villarreal won't allow James to pass to mount.
James wants to stand up but Villarreal is controlling the position.
Villarreal is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Villarreal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Villarreal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Villarreal is concentrating on defense, preventing James from advancing position.
James wants to control but Villarreal is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Villarreal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James wants to control from the top but Villarreal keeps moving.
James is pushing down on Villarreal's leg trying to pass to half guard. Villarreal is fighting to maintain full guard but James has managed to sneak the leg through.
Villarreal is not content to let James control the position.
Steve James has got the better of the ground game so far.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Villarreal keeps working.
James is looking to advance position but Villarreal won't allow it.
Villarreal wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James thows a huge punch but Villarreal dodges it nicely.
Villarreal trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Villarreal fails in his attempt to clinch.

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Villarreal's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Villarreal manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Villarreal.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Villarreal is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villarreal wants to stall.

James works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Villarreal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James looking to pass the guard.
Villarreal is trying to keep James in close.

James drops back looking for a leg! Villarreal is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Villarreal manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Villarreal's guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Villarreal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
James stops Villarreal from standing up.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James trying to control but Villarreal is working from the bottom.
Villarreal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
Villarreal trying to control the position.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Villarreal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villarreal wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Villarreal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Villarreal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James lands a nice looking body kick.
Villarreal misses with a two punch combination.

Villarreal tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Villarreal defends the submission attempt.
James moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Villarreal keeps working.
James lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
James wants to stand but Villarreal has his arm trapped.
Villarreal wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodney Villarreal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Villarreal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve James!
Steve James opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.