PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Recce James (ranked 5644 p4p, 25383 weight class) and Saikko Fushimaru (ranked 529 p4p, 589 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

James
vs
Fushimaru

187 cm
20
200
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
185
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

World Class MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Recce James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saikko Fushimaru!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a double jab.
Fushimaru looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Fushimaru persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
James tries to counter with a takedown but Fushimaru is quick to defend against it.
Fushimaru wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fushimaru.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James feints and then cracks Fushimaru's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fushimaru down.

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

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James drops back looking for a leg! Fushimaru is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fushimaru manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Fushimaru's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James drops back looking for a leg! Fushimaru is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fushimaru manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Fushimaru's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fushimaru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James advances position into side control!

James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fushimaru knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fushimaru on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
James working away.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fushimaru, who protects the arm well.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
James controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fushimaru is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
James working away.

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

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fushimaru is pushing James's head away, looking to escape. James manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fushimaru manages to get back to half guard.

James is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've been hearing that James has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fushimaru knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

James is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fushimaru defends it well.
James stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fushimaru moves away from the strike by James.
Fushimaru tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fushimaru somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fushimaru.
Fushimaru slips under a jab.
Fushimaru unleashes a big counter combination but James bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Fushimaru avoids the body shot from James.
James misses with a left hand
and Fushimaru counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fushimaru moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
James was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fushimaru manages to avoid it.
Fushimaru ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fushimaru shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Fushimaru keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Recce James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saikko Fushimaru.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James blocks the body kick.
Fushimaru tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but James defends well and Fushimaru ends up having to push James into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fushimaru looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fushimaru. Fushimaru circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Saikko Fushimaru has been cut.
Saikko Fushimaru is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Fushimaru, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James appears to be looking for a big counter.
Fushimaru is breathing heavily.
Fushimaru keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from James.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fushimaru can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fushimaru was well out of range. Poor timing from James.

Fushimaru gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fushimaru is looking to stand back up but James counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Fushimaru.

Recce James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
James moves into full mount! Fushimaru won't be happy about that!
This has been an exciting period of action!

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Fushimaru has managed to escape the submission attempt.

James is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Fushimaru to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Fushimaru shrugs it off.

James is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! James extends the arm and Fushimaru is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Recce James!
A less than humble Recce James misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.