PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dakota James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Runar Mathisen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Runar Mathisen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

James
vs
Mathisen

210 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
240 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dakota James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Runar Mathisen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mathisen!
James misses with a head shot.
James throws some wild stikes that Mathisen manages to avoid easily.
Mathisen is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
James with shots to the head and body - Mathisen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mathisen tries to hold on but James postures up.
James looking to control but Mathisen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James controlling from the full mount.
James lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mathisen hang on?
Mathisen tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathisen looks gassed!
Mathisen is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
James looking to finish Mathisen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mathisen!
James trying to control but Mathisen is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathisen is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
James looking to finish Mathisen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mathisen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, James cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mathisen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
James breaks from Mathisen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James landing strikes, looking to finish!
James wants to control the pace but Mathisen is squirming around nicely.
James avoids the attempt from Mathisen to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James mounts Mathisen! Really nice guard pass there!
A nice elbow there by James.
James trying to control but Mathisen is having none of it.
Mathisen is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
James in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
James seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mathisen for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James has control of Mathisen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mathisen regains control of the situation pretty easily.

James wants to finish this one by submission but Mathisen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from James.
Mathisen can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dakota James dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mathisen feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Mathisen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mathisen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James tries to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mathisen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mathisen manages to get himself to full guard.
Mathisen wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
James wants to control from the top but Mathisen keeps moving.
Mathisen wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathisen keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James prevents Mathisen from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mathisen avoids the body shot from James.

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mathisen is pulling down on James's head. It's preventing any offense from James, at least for the moment.
Mathisen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mathisen holds on and takes a little breather.

James stands and steps away. Mathisen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James moves in looking to clinch but Mathisen pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen throws a head kick that James semi-blocks.
James swinging wildly here.

Mathisen drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
Mathisen goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.

Mathisen breaks from the clinch.
James is looking to clinch.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathisen which made him look bad.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
Mathisen landing knees to the head.
James stops a takedown attempt from Mathisen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mathisen.
Dakota James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Runar Mathisen.
Mathisen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. James gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James is pressed up against the cage. Mathisen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mathisen instigates a clinch.
James leaning against his opponent.
Mathisen goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mathisen with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Mathisen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mathisen shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Mathisen 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.
Runar Mathisen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danga de danga de dang - James scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dakota James dominated that second round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mathisen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mathisen trying to control the position but James is working away.
James is trying to control Mathisen's posture but Mathisen avoids it.
Mathisen wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James is looking for a sweep.
James wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James prevents Mathisen from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathisen decides to stand back up. Mathisen steps back and let's James get back to his feet.
James fails with the takedown

and Mathisen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mathisen misses with a knee strike.
Mathisen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.

Mathisen gets control of James's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mathisen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mathisen is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
Mathisen keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James won't allow Mathisen to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathisen kicks James off and gets to his feet.
Mathisen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mathisen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mathisen smiles and moves away.
Mathisen clinches but James breaks the clinch
and James counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mathisen is defended easily by James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathisen has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a slapping leg kick.
Dakota James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Runar Mathisen.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mathisen fails with a takedown attempt.
Dakota James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathisen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathisen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
Mathisen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Mathisen didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Mathisen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
James misses with a leg kick.
James leaves Mathisen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mathisen misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Runar Mathisen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dakota James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathisen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dakota James.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dakota James!