PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reginald James (ranked 4459 p4p, 4064 weight class) and Jona Qarase (ranked 227 p4p, 215 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Qarase's choice of entrance music: Tavaka by Voqa Kei Munia. On his way into the cage it seems that Reginald James has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Reginald James seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

James
vs
Qarase

167 cm
25
140
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
143
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Bondi MMA

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reginald James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jona Qarase!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qarase lands a lovely overhand right.
James lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

James clinches up against the cage.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James tries to break free but Qarase pushes him back against the cage.
Qarase pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from James.

James manages to pull guard.
Qarase wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
James trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Qarase stands up from James's guard - Qarase perhaps looking for a knockout.
Qarase lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James tries to clinch up but Qarase circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Qarase with a body punch. A glancing blow.
James has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Qarase finds it's way round the side to connect with James's head.

Qarase forces James back against the cage and clinches.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jona Qarase seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Qarase!
Qarase digs a good body shot into James's ribs.
Qarase steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from James. That one must have hurt.
James throws a nice head kick!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Qarase lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
James moves in looking to clinch but Qarase pushes him off.
Qarase throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Qarase.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qarase throws a combination. James tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
James walks into a stiff left hand from Qarase.
Qarase throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
Qarase lands with a straight right. James didn't see that one coming.
Qarase misses with a jab, cross combination.

Qarase moves into the clinch.
Qarase prevents the takedown attempt.
Qarase controlling the action here for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Qarase as the two fighters clinch.
A shot in the inside from Qarase.
Qarase lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
James is breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Qarase creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Qarase slows down the pace here.
Nice body punch from Qarase - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Qarase scores with a nice short uppercut.
Qarase lands a nice uppercut.
Qarase throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Qarase effectively controlling the action here.
Qarase lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
Qarase lands a left hand.
Good body shot from Qarase.
Qarase controlling the action here for a moment.
James jumps guard but Qarase turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Qarase stalls.
A short uppercut from Qarase.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James slowing the pace effectively.
James is trying to pull guard but Qarase turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reginald James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Qarase lands with a light punch inside.
Qarase keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Qarase stalling against the cage.
Qarase working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Qarase is leaning against James and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Qarase lands a shot to the body.
Qarase scores with a nice hook to the head.
Qarase working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Qarase scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Qarase lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
Qarase stalling in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jona Qarase dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Qarase fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Qarase lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James moves in looking to clinch but Qarase pushes him off.
James has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Qarase finds it's way round the side to connect with James's head.
Qarase has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Qarase lands with a nice body punch.
James tries to clinch there but Qarase circles away.
Qarase lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Qarase sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Qarase rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Qarase.
Qarase lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
A right hand to the body from Qarase.
Qarase is working James over against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice right hand lands inside from Qarase.
Qarase is stalling here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Qarase stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qarase lands a shoulder strike.
Qarase lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Qarase - that landed with a thud.
Qarase lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Qarase creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

James is rocked!
Qarase pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Qarase lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short left from Qarase.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Qarase scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Qarase lands a shot to the body.
James seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qarase is working James over against the cage.
Qarase lands with a light punch inside.
Qarase gets through James's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Qarase lands a body shot.
Qarase lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Qarase lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Qarase scores with a shot to the side of James's head.
Qarase is working James over against the cage.
Qarase lands with a right to the head.
Qarase makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Qarase.
A short left from Qarase.
Qarase lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Qarase creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Qarase lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A hook to the body from Qarase.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qarase lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Qarase.
Qarase slows down the pace here.
Qarase working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Qarase lands with a left to the head.
Qarase lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
Qarase works on James's body with a couple of short punches.
A bit of stalling here from Qarase.
A short uppercut from Qarase.
Nice body punch from Qarase.
Qarase lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Qarase on the inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Qarase unloads with a big right hand that wobbles James! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Qarase is unloading with more strikes now! James drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jona Qarase!
Jona Qarase really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Bondi MMA logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.