PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 3283 p4p, 0 weight class) and Len Walsh (ranked 22041 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick James could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Len Walsh's chin.

James
vs
Walsh

180 cm
35
184 lbs
25 - 13 - 0

169 cm
29
178 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 25 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Len Walsh!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Walsh enables James to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Walsh manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Walsh is looking to stand back up but James counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Walsh.

Walsh is trying to get back to full guard.
James tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Walsh is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Walsh avoid being mounted?
Walsh is trying to get back to full guard.
Walsh keeps trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James stands up from half guard.

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.
Walsh doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

James stands up and waves to Walsh to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Walsh did well to prevent James getting side control.

James stands up out of the half guard.

James looking to score a takedown here. Walsh is defending well but James drives through and ends up in Walsh's guard.

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

James stands up and waves to Walsh to follow him.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Walsh's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walsh is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

James manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Walsh on his heels. He'll look to pass Walsh's guard now, I'm sure.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!

James drives through with a takedown into guard.

James gets to his feet. Walsh looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Walsh working a defensive guard here.

Walsh is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Walsh looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Walsh wants to get back to his feet but James is dominant here and he's now got Walsh's back!

James decides to get back to his feet. A strange decision but one that the crowd certainly appreciate.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James decides to return to a standing position.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Walsh's guard.
Walsh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Walsh should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Walsh working for submissions but it's allowed James to get to half guard.
Walsh looks winded!

James stands up and beckons Walsh to join him on the feet.

James fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Walsh to the ground. James is now in Walsh's guard.

James gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

James fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Walsh to the ground. James is now in Walsh's guard.
Walsh is wriggling around but James manages to pass to half guard.

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.

James gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

James scores with a takedown into Walsh's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walsh looking for a sweep. Not yet Walsh, not yet.

Walsh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

James gets to his feet - Walsh follows without any prompting.

James dives in and scores a takedown into Walsh's guard.
Walsh wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and James manages to pass to side control.

James prevents Walsh from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James scores with a takedown into Walsh's guard.

Walsh is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

James feints and as Walsh raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

James decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

James gets a takedown into half guard.
Walsh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

James moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Walsh.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Walsh can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

James stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

James decides to return to a standing position.

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Walsh works his way to full guard. Good work.

Walsh looking for subs off his back but James has passed one foot through into half guard.
Walsh is breathing heavily.

James decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Walsh did well to prevent James getting side control.
Walsh is trying to escape back to his feet but James uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

James has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

James escapes and gets back to his feet.

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Walsh did well to prevent James getting side control.
Walsh wants to get back to full guard.

James stands up and beckons Walsh to join him on the feet.
Walsh shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Walsh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Walsh scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but James manages to mount him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

James get's back to his feet.

James scores with a takedown into Walsh's guard.

James stands up from Walsh's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Walsh to the mat! Walsh manages to get full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James gets to his feet - Walsh follows without any prompting.

James throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Walsh was covering up waiting for the punch and James finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Walsh is looking to stand back up but James counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Walsh.

Walsh gets full guard.

James decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

James dives in and scores a takedown into Walsh's guard.

Walsh working for submissions but it's allowed James to get to half guard.
Walsh trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick 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!

James manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Walsh on his heels. He'll look to pass Walsh's guard now, I'm sure.

James gets to his feet - Walsh follows without any prompting.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Walsh gets back to full guard.

Walsh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Walsh wants to hit a switch here but James passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Walsh there!
James content just to control the position here.
Walsh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Walsh is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James controlling from mount.
Walsh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James avoids the attempt from Walsh to control.

James stands up from mount. Strange move.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Walsh napping and manages to drive through into side control!

James stands up and we're back to a striking position.

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James decides to stand up.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Walsh sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

James stands up and beckons Walsh to join him on the feet.
Rick James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Walsh is looking to get back to his feet here but James is keeping cool and he's managed to take Walsh's back.

James decides to stand up, even though he's got his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Walsh tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Walsh wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rick James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Walsh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rick James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

James decides to stand back up. James steps back and let's Walsh get back to his feet.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Walsh!

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders Walsh to his feet.

James gets a double leg takedown into Walsh's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick James showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick James!
After the fight, Rick James was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.