PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Fertit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fertit has chosen Deliverance as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

James
vs
Fertit

191 cm
26
275 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
268 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Fertit!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fertit pinned against the cage. Fertit gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Fertit shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fertit showed some decent athleticism there.
Fertit is stalling here. James is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Fertit seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and James has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Fertit struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Fertit sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fertit works his way to full guard. Good work.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fertit looking to control.
Fertit is pulling down on James's head. It's preventing any offense from James, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Johnny Fertit just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fertit scores with a takedown into James's guard.
Fertit trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Fertit forces his way into half guard.
James is trying to stand.
Fertit is trying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Fertit seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fertit connects with a nice short shot to James's temple.
Fertit is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Fertit is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

James is defending against the submission attempts here by Fertit.
Fertit looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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.

Fertit is looking for a kimura here.
Fertit wants to advance to full mount but James doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Fertit dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James misses with a takedown

and Fertit counters by moving into the clinch.

Fertit gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Fertit has gone for a leg lock! James slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fertit's guard.

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fertit has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between Fertit's legs - danger averted.

Fertit working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James stands and steps away. Fertit gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fertit counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!

Fertit moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, James has worked his arm free - good work by James!

Fertit working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fertit misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Fertit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fertit lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fertit lands some shots froms side control.
Fertit lands an elbow.

Fertit tries for a kimura but James is defending well.
Fertit is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Fertit swings around for an armbar but James sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Fertit's guard.
Fertit is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fertit is trying to control the position but James postures up.

Fertit isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. James stacks Fertit on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by James!
Fertit tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fertit can't do much from the bottom here.

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fertit to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Fertit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

James shoots and misses

and Fertit counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in James's guard now.
Fertit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Fertit is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! James is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! James has escaped and now he's on top!

James stands and steps away. Fertit gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fertit shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Fertit 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.
James tries for a takedown but Fertit circles away easily

and Fertit counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fertit throwing strikes here but James is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fertit postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. James looks a forlorn figure.
James avoids a strike by Fertit and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Fertit's guard! Fantastic escape!
Fertit has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
Fertit is trying to control the position but James postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fertit had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
Fertit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fertit is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Fertit manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fertit controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
James keeping moving, preventing Fertit from controlling successfully.
Fertit wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
James wants to stand up but Fertit is controlling him.

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.
Fertit wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Johnny Fertit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Antonio James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James wants to get back to his feet but Fertit is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fertit passes James's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Fertit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fertit 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Fertit!