PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Clinton Strong (ranked 3325 p4p, 5294 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 190 p4p, 0 weight class). Clinton Strong has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Strong
vs
James

180 cm
18
135
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
146
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Clinton Strong !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James with the counter takedown but Strong avoids it easily.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strong is trying hard to land a takedown here. James sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
James is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Strong persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strong defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clinton Strong . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
James is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Strong .
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Strong .
And James tries to counter it with a takedown but Strong pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Strong won't be happy with that.
Strong is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

James tries for a kimura but Strong is defending well.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

James goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Strong rolls with the submission and now he's on top in James's guard! Nice work there by Strong !

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

James looking for a guillotine here but Strong defends easily.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Strong is aware though and is defending well.

Strong 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.
James keeping moving, preventing Strong from controlling successfully.
Strong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Strong trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Strong with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strong trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Strong throwing strikes but missing.
James working a defensive guard here.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Strong trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Strong 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.

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.
James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Strong wants to clinch.
James with the counter takedown but Strong avoids it easily.
Strong throws a big shot that misses.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but James defends well and Strong ends up having to push James into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The referee calls for James to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James gets underhooks to prevent Strong 's takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jesse James will probably get the nod.
That's time! Strong 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Strong .
Nice sprawl there from James as Strong shoots in.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strong defends it well.
Clinton Strong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strong wants to clinch.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strong defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Strong on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clinton Strong . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Strong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And James tries to counter it with a takedown but Strong pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Strong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Strong throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Strong tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Strong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Clinton Strong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Strong 's head and hops out.
Strong tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James feints the counter takedown.
Strong tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James with the counter takedown but Strong avoids it easily.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strong tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Strong somewhat.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Strong .
James is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

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 showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Strong .
Strong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
And James tries to counter it with a takedown but Strong pushes his down on his head and steps out.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strong defends it well.
Strong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
James slips under a jab.
Strong is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
James feints the counter takedown.
Strong shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Strong 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Strong .
James stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clinton Strong . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Strong .
Strong shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James with the counter takedown but Strong avoids it easily.
Strong throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James feints the counter takedown.
Strong tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Strong .
Strong shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Strong 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And James tries to counter it with a takedown but Strong pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Strong with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Strong .
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jesse James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strong wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Strong defends it well.
Strong misses with a series of wild punches.
Strong tries to clinch up

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Strong didn't expect that.
Clinton Strong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clinton Strong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controls from within his opponent's guard.
Strong manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.

Strong 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

James looking for subs off his back but Strong has passed one foot through into half guard.
Strong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James trying to control but Strong postures up.
Strong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong working James over with strikes.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Strong drops an elbow to the side of James's head.
James wants to improve his position but Strong is controlling well.
James trying to hold on to Strong 's head to control him but Strong postures up.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James tries to get to full guard but Strong has control of the leg.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Strong pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse James.
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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Jesse James!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Jesse James!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Jesse James!

Jesse James wins by unanimous decision!