PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristofir James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gray
vs
James

185 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

New York Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kristofir James!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray connects with a high kick.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kristofir James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gray gets a clinch.
Gray stalls.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Gray for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Gray lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Kristofir James has been cut.
Gray leaning his opponent against the cage.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gray misses with the head strike.
James can't break the clinch.
Gray lands a knee to the head.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gray.
Gray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James misses with a body shot.

James tries to keep at a distance but Gray has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray scores a nice knee to the body.
Gray landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A shot in the inside from Gray.
Gray lands a nice knee to the body.
James looks gassed!
Gray with a knee to the head.
Gray will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning James up against the cage.

Gray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James throws a body punch but Gray moves out of range.
James throws a hook to the side of Gray's head but Gray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Gray closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
Gray landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A knee to the head by Gray.
Gray lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gray closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray is pushing James up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gray's elbow.
Gray using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gray lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Gray.
Gray unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Gray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gray thows a body kick. James tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gray displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Gray fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Gray lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gray just leaning against James, taking a breather.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gray unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gray crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
Gray crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.

Gray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gray throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
James takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick from Gray lands but James takes it in his stride.
James throws a big shot that misses.
James swinging wilding here.
Gray throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Gray moves into the clinch.
Gray scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gray landing knees to the head.
Gray with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gray unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gray throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by James.
James throws a sloppy body shot
and Gray counters with a leg kick.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gray counters with a nice body kick.
James takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Gray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Gray manages to break the clinch.

Gray fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Gray unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gray lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gray connects with a knee to the head.
Gray is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gray scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gray throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Gray is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gray stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows James to get to his feet.

Gray has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
Gray lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gray with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gray has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gray tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray trying to land knees to the body.

Gray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gray tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gray to the ground. Gray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James misses with an uppercut. Gray saw that one coming.

Gray rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James is trying to break the clinch but Gray has him pressed against the cage.

Gray breaks from the clinch.
Gray throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Gray fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gray throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.
Gray lands a high kick!
Gray tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gray's waist but Gray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Gabriel Gray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristofir James.
James takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gray was well out of range. Poor timing from James.

Gray closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
Gray using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gray.
Gray scores a nice knee to the body.
Gray lands a damaging elbow.
Gray lands a knee to the body.
Gray prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Gray using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gray.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Gray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
James wants to break free but Gray has control.
Gray lands a nice knee to the body.
Gray scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to break free.
Gray landing knees to the body.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Gray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James wants to break free but Gray has control.
Gray lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Gray manages to break the clinch.
James shoots in but Gray avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gray pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.

Gray manages to break the clinch.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gray's waist but Gray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.

Gray gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gray connects with a knee to the head.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
A knee to the head by Gray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray misses with an elbow over the top.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gray stalling in the clinch but James improves position.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Gray tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James can't break the clinch.
James has had enough of the clinch but Gray keeps him there for the moment.
Gray landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gray keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gray tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gray has him pressed against the cage.
James wants to break free but Gray has control.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.
Gray with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Gray dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kristofir James's cut.
That's time! Gray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

James throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gray counters with a nice kick to the body.
Gray tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James takes a head kick and keeps coming.
James is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gray rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice defenses there by Gray.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Gray is just out of range.
Gray throws a head kick that half lands.
James cracks Gray with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Gray scores with a three punch combo!
Gray stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.

Gray has managed to clinch.
Gray manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gray.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gray lands a shot to the body.
Gray holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gray manages to break the clinch.
Gray moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Gray closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
Gray lands with a right to the head.
Gray stalling against the cage.
Gray lands a nice knee to the body.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gray has him pressed against the cage.
Gray scores with a hook to the body.
James misses with a punch to the body.
Gray stalling against the cage.
James takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James takes a shot to the head.

Gray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from James.
Gray lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gabriel Gray is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gray.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gray!
Gray is trying to escape the mount.
James looking to control but Gray is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
Gray is looking to get to half guard.
Gray is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Gray is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four 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.
Gray can't escape the position.
Gray is trying to stand.
Gray is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
Gray is working hard here to advance position.
Kristofir James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray regains half guard.
James lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Gray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gray, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Gray!