PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce SilvA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Curtis James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Curtis James struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

SilvA
vs
James

180 cm
19
172 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

184 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce SilvA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis James!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James wants to clinch.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

SilvA scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

James looking for submissions off his back.
SilvA works his way into side control.

SilvA tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no SilvA has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

SilvA tries for a kimura but James is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

SilvA goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, James rolls with the submission and now he's on top in SilvA's guard! Nice work there by James!

James is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

That's two 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.
SilvA advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

SilvA tries for a kimura but James is defending well.
James looks gassed!
SilvA has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for James!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

SilvA looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
James is trying to escape the mount but SilvA keeps good control and instead manages to take James's back.

SilvA working for a choke but James is defending well.

James defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

SilvA looking for the RNC.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

SilvA has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, James has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce SilvA 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.

SilvA swats away the attempt to clinch by James.

SilvA drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

SilvA is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
SilvA passes into half guard.
SilvA seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SilvA works his way into full mount!
James is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, SilvA has taken his back.

SilvA is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and James taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from SilvA.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Royce SilvA!