PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Pearson (ranked 572 p4p, 77 weight class) and Jakub Trabowski (ranked 3204 p4p, 346 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pearson
vs
Trabowski

180 cm
25
262 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

189 cm
28
252 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Pearson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jakub Trabowski!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pearson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Trabowski lands an overhand right.

It looks like James Pearson has been cut.
Trabowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pearson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Trabowski scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Crunch! Pearson slams his shin into Trabowski's torso.
Trabowski gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Pearson counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Jakub Trabowski has been cut.
Pearson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Trabowski wants to clinch.
Trabowski moves to clinch but Pearson breaks away
and Pearson counters with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Trabowski wants to clinch but Pearson slips to the side
and Pearson counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trabowski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Trabowski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Pearson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Trabowski shoots in looking for a takedown but Pearson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Trabowski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pearson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pearson scores with a nice head shot.
Pearson throws a body shot but no joy.
Pearson scoring well with a low kick there.
Jakub Trabowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trabowski misses with a series of wild punches.
Trabowski throws a jab but it's blocked by Pearson.
And Pearson counters with a quick kick to the body but Trabowski blocks it.
Pearson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pearson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Trabowski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trabowski tries to clinch
and Trabowski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pearson throws a wild body kick that Trabowski sees coming a mile off.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pearson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Trabowski with a jab.
Trabowski misses with a head kick.
Pearson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pearson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Trabowski.
Trabowski misses with an uppercut. Pearson saw that one coming.
Trabowski wants to clinch.
Trabowski shoots in for a takedown but Pearson shows good takedown defense.
Pearson throws the left hand but Trabowski avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Trabowski finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Pearson swats away the attempt to clinch by Trabowski.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pearson.
Trabowski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pearson.
Trabowski tries to clinch up but Pearson circles away and keeps his distance.
Trabowski lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

James Pearson's cut is getting worse.
James Pearson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pearson misses with a wild body shot.

Trabowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pearson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pearson misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Trabowski.
Trabowski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pearson.
Trabowski tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A right handed body shot lands from Pearson.
Trabowski looks winded!
Pearson pushes Trabowski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pearson lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pearson manages to break the clinch.
Trabowski misses the jab.
Pearson scores with a spinning back kick!
Pearson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Trabowski momentarily.
Pearson tries a head kick but it misses.
Pearson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pearson.
Pearson scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Pearson dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Pearson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jab by Pearson.
Trabowski rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pearson blocks a low kick nicely.
Pearson misses with a body shot.
Trabowski feints the counter takedown.
Trabowski tries to clinch but Pearson is having none of it.
Pearson keeps the fight on the outside.
Trabowski throws a sloppy head kick
and Pearson counters with a nice leg kick.
Trabowski takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Trabowski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearson looks to land a body kick but Trabowski moved away.
Trabowski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Trabowski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Trabowski is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pearson. That's going to slow Trabowski down.
Pearson thuds his shin into the meat of Trabowski's side.
Pearson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Trabowski tries to close the distance and clinch but Pearson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pearson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Trabowski tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pearson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Trabowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pearson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Trabowski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pearson.
A hook to the body from Trabowski.
Pearson blocking some punches.
Pearson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pearson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Trabowski missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trabowski misses with a punch to the body.
Pearson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Trabowski's elbow.
The referee calls for Pearson to work.
Pearson blocks a body shot from Trabowski.
A short left from Pearson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Trabowski's elbow.
A short uppercut from Pearson.
Still in the clinch, Trabowski scores with a nice short uppercut.

Pearson manages to break the clinch.
Trabowski tries to clinch up but Pearson circles away and keeps his distance.
Trabowski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pearson swivels and escapes.
Pearson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Trabowski goes for a double leg but Pearson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pearson continues to drive forward.
Pearson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Trabowski can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trabowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James Pearson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jakub Trabowski.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pearson.
Pearson throws a quick inside leg kick.

Trabowski shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pearson wants to get back to full guard.
Pearson gets back to full guard.
Pearson controlling the 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.
Trabowski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Pearson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pearson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Trabowski tries to strike from the bottom.
Trabowski controlling the position.
Trabowski is looking to stand back up but Pearson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Trabowski.
Pearson slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Pearson 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!

Trabowski misses with a two punch combination.
Pearson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pearson.
Trabowski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pearson throws a quick counter kick to the body but Trabowski avoids it.
Pearson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Trabowski was well out of range. Poor timing from Pearson.
Trabowski tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Pearson has managed to clinch.
Trabowski landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Trabowski scores with a shoulder strike.
Trabowski lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Trabowski.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Trabowski unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Trabowski's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Trabowski lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Trabowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pearson is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Trabowski.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trabowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pearson is defending well for now.
Trabowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Pearson avoids the damage to the body.
Trabowski blocking some punches.
Jakub Trabowski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Trabowski lands a nice shot to the body.
Pearson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right handed body shot lands from Trabowski.
Trabowski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Trabowski has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pearson.
Trabowski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
You can see that Trabowski has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Trabowski can't find room to land a body shot as Pearson controls the action.
Trabowski tries to work over Pearson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Trabowski prevents a body shot from Pearson.
Trabowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Pearson avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pearson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Trabowski misses with the head strike.
Pearson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Trabowski working aggressively here.
Trabowski misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trabowski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pearson.
Pearson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Trabowski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pearson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Trabowski misses with a body punch.
Pearson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pearson tries a body shot but Trabowski blocks it.
Pearson lands a nice uppercut.
Pearson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Trabowski has a couple of punches blocked by Pearson.
Pearson tries to work over Trabowski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Trabowski throws a head punch that misses.
Trabowski working aggressively here.
Pearson lands a hook that snaps the head of Trabowski backwards.
Trabowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pearson is defending well for now.
Trabowski misses with some punches.
Trabowski missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trabowski blocks a body shot from Pearson.
Pearson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Trabowski or not.
Trabowski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pearson is leaning against Trabowski and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pearson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Trabowski backwards.
Pearson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pearson slowing the pace effectively.
Trabowski prevents a body shot from Pearson.
Pearson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Trabowski backwards.
Pearson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pearson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Trabowski's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A body shot lands from Pearson.
A nice left hand lands by Pearson.
Pearson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Trabowski's elbow.
Pearson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearson lands a shoulder strike.

Trabowski is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson lands a nice shot to the body.
Trabowski has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Pearson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Trabowski can turn it around.
Trabowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pearson is defending well for now.
Pearson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Trabowski working aggressively here.
A short left from Pearson.
Pearson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Trabowski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pearson's elbow.
Pearson lands with a short shot to the head.
Trabowski is still on wobbly legs! Can Pearson finish him?

Pearson drops Trabowski onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Trabowski is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

That has opened up Jakub Trabowski's cut even more.
Trabowski has a couple of punches blocked by Pearson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pearson.
Pearson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Pearson.
Jakub Trabowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Pearson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Trabowski seems to have recovered his senses.
Pearson is working Trabowski over against the cage.
Trabowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pearson avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Pearson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pearson, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Pearson!
A victorious James Pearson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Jakub Trabowski was interviewed post fight and said 'i want re-match'.