PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ikaro Dantas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonathan James told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Dantas
vs
James

189 cm
19
194 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ikaro Dantas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan James!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws the kick towards the body but Dantas avoids it.
Dantas needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dantas at a distance.

Dantas gets a clinch.
Dantas connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Dantas.
James tries to circle away but Dantas has him pinned against the cage.
James is trying to break free.
Nice body punch from Dantas.
Dantas is struggling to control the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Dantas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dantas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dantas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James looks gassed!
Dantas content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Dantas landing strikes.
Dantas content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Dantas working the strikes but James uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dantas lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dantas is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantas landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dantas wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
Dantas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dantas lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dantas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

We're going to have a standup here because Ikaro Dantas wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dantas.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dantas throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Decent striking displayed by Dantas there.
Dantas misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikaro Dantas dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dantas moves into the clinch.
Dantas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dantas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Dantas lands a right hand.

Dantas has clasped his hands together around James's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dantas has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Dantas works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James is breathing heavily.
Dantas controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dantas's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Ikaro Dantas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Dantas clinches.
Dantas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Dantas avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dantas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
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!
Dantas scores with a shot to the side of James's head.

James is rocked!

Dantas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James is still on wobbly legs! Can Dantas finish him?
Dantas throws a leg kick which misses James's front leg but catches the back leg as James tries to avoid it.

Dantas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dantas advances nicely into full mount.
Dantas controlling the position easily from mount.
Dantas unloads with some vicious shots from mount and James wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Dantas celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ikaro Dantas!