PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Carlsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Carlsen

187 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Amsterdam, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Magnus Carlsen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James instigates a clinch.
James missing with knees to the body.

James jumps guard.
James wants to stand up but Carlsen is controlling him.
Carlsen trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James wants to stand but Carlsen is controlling the position.
Carlsen trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carlsen on the ground.
Carlsen controlling from the top position.
James on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if James tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlsen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsen prevents James from getting back to his feet.
James is trying to control the position but Carlsen postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Carlsen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

James darts in and clinches Carlsen up against the cage.

James breaks the clinch.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Carlsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Carlsen is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlsen is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James is stalling here. Carlsen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! James seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Carlsen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Carlsen stands up.
Carlsen misses with a head kick.

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
James misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
James controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A nice elbow there by James.

It looks like Magnus Carlsen has been cut.
Carlsen wants to control but James is having none of it.
Carlsen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
James has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Carlsen has passed into side control.
James is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Carlsen is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carlsen decides to stand up, so the ref orders James to his feet.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
It looks like James is going to stand back up.
Carlsen is not content to let James control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Magnus Carlsen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carlsen tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James moves out of range of the body kick from Carlsen.

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Carlsen wriggles free and stands up.
Carlsen misses with a takedown attempt
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.

Carlsen is rocked!
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carlsen circles away quickly and effectively.
Carlsen with a poor takedown

and James moves into the clinch.

James manages to break the clinch.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
James stalling the fight.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsen misses with a body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - James scores with a four punch combination!
Carlsen is still on wobbly legs! Can James finish him?
James lands a brutal uppercut that launches Carlsen off his feet! Carlsen tumbles to the floor, barely conscious - the referee jumps in to save him from a beating! Wow, what an ending!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rick James!