PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zsiga Venczel (ranked 1534 p4p, 213 weight class) and Tyson James (ranked 1145 p4p, 163 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Venczel
vs
James

192 cm
27
220 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

192 cm
41
214 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Bullet Proof System

RAGS of a RONIN

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 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zsiga Venczel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tyson James!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Venczel.
James has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
James tries to clinch but Venczel moves out of range.
Venczel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from James.
Venczel is looking to chop away at James's legs.
Venczel lands a lovely overhand right.
Venczel lunges at James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by James's hand.
James looks to land a combination but Venczel avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Venczel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice cross by James.

It looks like Zsiga Venczel has been cut.
Venczel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Venczel works the jab nicely.
James moves out of range as Venczel throws a body kick.
James lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
James throws a body kick that misses.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Venczel throws out the jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Venczel takes a jab right on the kisser.

James lands a big uppercut and Venczel crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Venczel looks OK. James waves Venczel back to his feet!

Venczel is rocked!
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Oh Venczel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James missing with a left hand there. Venczel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
James throws a hook but Venczel blocks it.
Venczel seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venczel throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Venczel throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Tyson James has been cut.

James cracks Venczel with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Venczel looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can James finish him?
Venczel scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
James on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Venczel darts in and clinches James up against the cage.

James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
James trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Venczel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Venczel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Venczel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

James looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Venczel passes into side control.
James manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Venczel sees it coming and defends easily.
James is looking to take a break and control but Venczel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Venczel trying to control here.
James wants to control but Venczel is keeping him busy.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Venczel controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

James is looking for a kimura here.
Venczel trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Venczel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

James seems to be looking for submissions.

James is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Venczel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Venczel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
James postures up.

Venczel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Venczel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James wants to pass the guard but Venczel is keeping the position.

Venczel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
James trying to control but Venczel is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson James dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Venczel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Venczel.
Venczel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
James throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
James misses with a low kick.
Venczel drops down looking for a counter takedown but James sprawls and moves away.
James looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Venczel connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for James. That snapped Venczel's head back.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Venczel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Venczel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
James misses with a looping left.
It looks like Venczel has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Venczel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Venczel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Venczel stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Venczel clinches.
Venczel avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Venczel.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Venczel drives through with a takedown into guard.
James has momentary wrist control but Venczel slips an elbow through the middle.
Venczel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Venczel wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Venczel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Venczel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Venczel is looking for a kimura but James is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Venczel to get the leverage.
Venczel lands with a punch from half guard.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venczel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Venczel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Venczel defends it easily.
James keeping full guard, as Venczel tries to pass.
Venczel controls from within his opponent's guard.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Venczel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Venczel with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Venczel got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Venczel has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
Venczel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James is looking to reverse the position.
Venczel landing strikes.
Venczel landing a few strikes.
Venczel is working James over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Venczel's best efforts.

Venczel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Venczel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so James is just riding it out for now. Venczel eventually gives up the hold.

James looking for submissions off his back.
Venczel 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.
Venczel is trying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
James wants to control but Venczel is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zsiga Venczel dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Venczel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Venczel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Venczel is just out of range.
Venczel takes one to the side of the head.
Venczel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Venczel counters with a takedown into side control.
Venczel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Venczel controlling the position.
Venczel scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at James to see if he's OK.
Venczel working the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Venczel working the head and body with strikes.
Venczel lands some shots froms side control.
James tries to bench press Venczel off him but Venczel keeps the position.
Zsiga Venczel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Venczel scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venczel controls the position from side control.
Venczel lands an elbow.
Venczel landing a few strikes.
Venczel lands a nice forearm strike.
James taking punishment in the form of punches.
Venczel lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear James down.

Venczel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep.
Venczel scoring with punches and elbows.
James is trying to improve his position.
Venczel cracks James with a big elbow.
Venczel scoring with punches from side control.
James tries to buck Venczel off but Venczel is having none of it.
Venczel is chipping away with strikes.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Venczel landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel grinds an elbow into James's temple.

Venczel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Venczel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Venczel cracks James with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Venczel wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
Venczel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Venczel trying to control the position but James is working away.
Venczel looks up at the clock and then as James takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Venczel smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is working to avoid the ground and pound but Venczel connects with a decent elbow.
Venczel is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That has opened up Tyson James's cut even more.
Venczel working the ground and pound.
Venczel is putting a hurting on James here, landing some big shots from side control.

The cut above Tyson James's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
James is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Venczel off and has taken his back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

James tightening his grip on Venczel, looking for the choke.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Venczel tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

And that's the end of the fight!
Zsiga Venczel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Venczel 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zsiga Venczel!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Zsiga Venczel waved his t-shirt featuring Bullet Proof System's logo in front of the cameras.