PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Island Boy Jim (ranked 1176 p4p, 3038 weight class) and Johnny Slater (ranked 165 p4p, 348 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Jim
vs
Slater

183 cm
25
166
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
161
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Island Boy Jim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Slater!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jim shoots for a takedown but Slater saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jim changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Slater tries to avoid it but Jim manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Slater to the ground. Slater escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Slater throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jim tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Slater is in Jim's guard.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Jim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jim is trying to keep Slater in close.
Slater lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Slater stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Slater wants to control from the top but Jim keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater distracts Jim with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Slater is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jim trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Jim had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slater defends it easily.
Slater trying to control but Jim is working from the bottom.
Jim is trying to keep Slater in close.
Jim seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Slater wants to control from the top but Jim keeps moving.
Slater with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Slater got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slater has managed to get both his arms back between Jim's legs - danger averted.
Jim is trying to control the position but Slater postures up.
Jim wants to sweep here but Slater controlling him for the moment.
Slater is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Slater stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jim swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jim trying to keep a closed guard but Slater is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Slater lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jim circles away quickly and effectively.
Jim darts in looking for a takedown but Slater gets double underhooks and turns Jim into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Island Boy Jim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Slater turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Slater manages to end up in side control.
Slater wants to control but Jim is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jim is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Slater's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Slater drops an elbow to the side of Jim's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jim wants to improve his position but Slater is controlling well.
Jim trying to control from the bottom.
Slater trying to control from half guard but Jim is working away.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jim looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Slater seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jim controls Slater momentarily but Slater frees himself.
Slater tries to free his leg and advance position but Jim is retaining full guard.
Jim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slater wants to control from the top but Jim keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Slater looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Slater dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Slater gets a takedown into half guard.
Jim gets back to full guard.
Slater with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Slater accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Slater with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jim seems keen to control Slater's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Jim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jim trying to keep a closed guard but Slater is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jim keeping moving, preventing Slater from controlling successfully.
Slater has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slater is in close to Jim's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Slater slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jim scores with a takedown into Slater's guard.
Jim trying to control but Slater is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Slater lands a couple of elbows.
Slater trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Slater wants to control from the top but Jim keeps moving.
Jim is trying to control the position but Slater postures up.
Jim has Slater pulled in close to control his posture.
Jim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Jim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slater lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Slater slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Jim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jim is on top in guard.

Slater pulls Jim in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Slater holds on and takes a little breather.
Jim trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Slater manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Slater is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jim is controlling Slater's posture.
Slater trying to control but Jim is working from the bottom.
Slater stopping the sweep attempt from Jim.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Slater showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jim fails with the takedown.
Slater thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jim shoots for a takedown but Slater saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Slater is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jim's half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Slater scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slater controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jim is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Jim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jim is looking for a kimura but Slater is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jim to get the leverage.

Jim is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jim prevents Slater from improving his position.

Jim looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jim is working away from the top position though.
Jim wants to take a breather but Slater is having none of it.
Jim is really struggling to control Slater but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Island Boy Jim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Slater can do anything to dispel that myth.

Jim is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater tries to roll over but Jim keeps him under control.
Jim is trying to control the action in half guard but Slater is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Slater is trying to control but Jim passes into side control!

Jim looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slater keeps working.

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.

Jim looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Jim is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Slater is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jim trying to control the action but Slater is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Jim misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slater tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jim counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Island Boy Jim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Slater has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Slater!
During a confident post fight interview, Johnny Slater thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.