PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Rousey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

James
vs
Rousey

210 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Tends to cut

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raymond Rousey!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to clinch up.

James moves into range and clinches up with Rousey.
Rousey tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Rousey drops back down to his feet.
James is trying to pull guard but Rousey has him pressed against the cage.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rousey successfully pulls guard.
Rousey looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rousey is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rousey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Rousey throws a big elbow that misses.
Rousey stopping the sweep attempt from James.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James is looking to stand up but Rousey isn't so interested in that idea.
Rousey sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rousey moves into the clinch successfully.
Rousey gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.

Rousey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rousey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Rousey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rousey is adopting a defensive guard.
Rousey looking for a sweep. Not yet Rousey, not yet.
James trying to control but Rousey is working from the bottom.

Rousey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rousey controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rousey defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rousey swivels and escapes.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rousey shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.

James clinches up against the cage.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymond Rousey dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good work by Rousey as he checks the leg kick.
Rousey circles away from the clinch attempt.
James slips under a jab from Rousey.
Nice sprawl there from James as Rousey shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rousey.
James shoots in but Rousey avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rousey manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James misses with a left hand

and Rousey counters by moving into the clinch.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rousey just stands there and leans against the cage.
James tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rousey smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rousey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rousey throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
James swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rousey throws a punch but it's blocked by James.

Rousey manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rousey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
James pushes down on Rousey's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rousey tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rousey keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
James wants to advance to full mount but Rousey doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Rousey looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

James stands and steps away. Rousey gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James fails with the takedown.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rousey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rousey tries to counter with a clinch but James shakes him off and moves away.
Rousey throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
James shoots for a takedown but Rousey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rousey dives in for a single leg takedown but James sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rousey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
No luck for Rousey with that takedown attempt.
James wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rousey shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Rousey 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.
Josh James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rousey counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rousey.
Rousey avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
Rousey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rousey after a bit of a struggle.

Rousey manages to break the clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Rousey sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rousey closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Rousey pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James throws a leg kick but Rousey checks it.
Rousey shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raymond Rousey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rousey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Rousey darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Rousey has double underhooks.
Rousey jumps guard but James turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James stalling in the clinch but Rousey improves position.
James is working for takedown but Rousey is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rousey fails to pull guard.
Josh James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Rousey.
James tries to pull guard but Rousey won't allow it.

Rousey pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James preventing the sweep.
Rousey throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Raymond Rousey has got the better of the ground game so far.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Rousey has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rousey tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rousey swivels and escapes.

Rousey has managed to clinch.

James breaks the clinch.
Rousey throws a head kick that misses.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rousey darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Rousey into the cage.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Rousey circles away.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rousey as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rousey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James is looking to counter with head kicks.
Rousey moves out of range of the strikes.
Rousey dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Rousey's head and hops out.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rousey fails with an attempt to clinch.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rousey circles away.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rousey circles away.

Rousey moves into the clinch.
Rousey jumps guard but James stands there with Rousey around his waist. Rousey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James stalling in the clinch but Rousey improves position.
James is trying to pull guard but Rousey turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rousey is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rousey tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rousey throws a head punch that misses.

Rousey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raymond Rousey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rousey or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.

Rousey shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. James manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James keeping full guard, as Rousey tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Rousey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rousey 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raymond Rousey!