PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kid Cudi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cudi comes to the cage accompanied by The Prayer. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cudi
vs
James

185 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kid Cudi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cudi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from James.
A left and a right from James both land. Nice combination.
James tries for a takedown but Cudi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kid Cudi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy James.
James fails with the takedown.
It looked like Cudi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Cudi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Cudi. No joy for James on that attempt.
Cudi attempts a counter takedown but James avoids it well and moves away.

Cudi tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cudi tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cudi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cudi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James darts in looking for a takedown but Cudi gets double underhooks and turns James into the cage.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cudi counters with a two punch combo.
Cudi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cudi wants it to stay on the feet.
James looks winded!
Cudi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cudi sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cudi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Cudi looking for submissions off his back.
Cudi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cudi.
James throws a strike but Cudi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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!
Cudi won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Cudi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
James keeping moving, preventing Cudi from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cudi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cudi throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cudi controls the pace.
James keeping moving, preventing Cudi from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cudi won't allow James to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James shoots in for a takedown but Cudi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Cudi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

James shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cudi is trying to defend but James finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
James thows a huge punch but Cudi dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kid Cudi will probably get the nod.
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 tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cudi defends well and James ends up having to push Cudi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James shoots for a takedown but Cudi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kid Cudi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy James.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cudi swivels and escapes.
It looked like Cudi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
James tries for a takedown but Cudi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cudi counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
Cudi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
James is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cudi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cudi trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cudi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cudi trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two 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.
Cudi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As James looks to move away, Cudi throws a big counter combo but James just gets out of the way.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Cudi. Cudi gets slowly back to his feet.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Cudi bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cudi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
James's coach down at Atlas MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on James's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
James looks for a takedown but Cudi sprawls well.
James fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cudi counters with a nice low kick that buckles James's knee momentarily.
Cudi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Cudi counters with a thumping low kick.
We've been told by Cudi's head coaches at LOD: Fight Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Cudi closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Cudi pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Cudi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
James leaves Cudi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a takedown
and Cudi counters with a series of strikes. James will be more careful next time no doubt.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cudi defends well and James ends up having to push Cudi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cudi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cudi with a body shot.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cudi as he avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cudi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for James!
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!
Cudi works to advance to full mount. James defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kid Cudi dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

James fails with the takedown.

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.

Cudi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cudi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Cudi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cudi was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
Cudi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Cudi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kid Cudi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy James.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Cudi counters with a three punch combo that has James backing up. James nods at Cudi to acknowledge the strikes.
Cudi looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Kid Cudi is winning the standup battle so far.
Cudi stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Cudi scores with a head kick.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cudi's waist but Cudi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
James dodges the punch combination from Cudi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cudi looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
James now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cudi tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cudi to the ground. Cudi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cudi throws a big counter combination but James scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
James misses with a takedown
and Cudi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cudi.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Cudi on that attempt.
Cudi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cudi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cudi counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cudi moves into range and clinches up with James.
Cudi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Cudi has double underhooks.

Cudi breaks from the clinch.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cudi's waist but Cudi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Cudi as James shoots in.
Cudi feinted with a counter takedown.
Cudi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James throws a nice looking combination but Cudi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cudi is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cudi fails to land with a series of punches.
James shoots for a takedown but Cudi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cudi is looking for a counter combo.
Cudi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cudi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cudi or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
Kid Cudi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cudi sprawls well. Cudi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Cudi throws a big counter combination but James scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cudi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kid Cudi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cudi 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kid Cudi!
A victorious Kid Cudi thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.