PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Link (ranked 24757 p4p, 25039 weight class) and Some Body (ranked 714 p4p, 692 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Body's choice of entrance music: boom. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Link
vs
Body

180 cm
20
200
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
19
205
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Link!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Some Body!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Link misses with a body kick.
Body tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Link is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Body.
Body walks into a stiff left hand from Link.

It looks like Some Body has been cut.

Body closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Link tries to score a body lock takedown but Body shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Body is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Link is defending well for now.

Link jumps guard.
Body tries to free his leg and advance position but Link is retaining full guard.
Link thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Link pulls Body in close to his closed guard and prevents Body from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Link looking to hit a scissor sweep but Body is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Link trying to strike off his back.
Body trying to control the position from guard on top but Link is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Body with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Body displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Link.

Body gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Link just leaning against Body, taking a breather.
Link jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Body walks away with a smile on his face. Link gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Link moves into the clinch.
Link stalls.
Body lands an elbow that stopped Link in his tracks for a moment.
Link has Body pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Body manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Body tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Link jumps into guard, dragging Body to the mat.
Body tries to stand but Link is controlling from the bottom.

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

Link slips nicely into half guard.
Link with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Body is looking for a sweep. Link is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Link stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Link trying to pass the guard but Body defending well.

Link decides to stand up.

Body forces Link back against the cage and clinches.

Link breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Body darts in and clinches Link up against the cage.
Link taking a breather.
Link is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Body pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Link has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Body after a bit of a struggle.
A left hand lands to the body for Body.
Link is breathing heavily.
Body working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Link takes a knee to the side of the body.
Link managing to block the knees to the body from Body.
Body trying to land knees to the body.
Body tries to throw a body punch but Link avoids it by throwing Body back against the cage.
Body landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Body scores with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Link blocks a body shot from Body.
Body landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Body tries to throw a body punch but Link avoids it by throwing Body back against the cage.
Link is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Some Body dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Some Body's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Body tries to clinch but Link is having none of it.
Body has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Link shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Body defends it nicely.
Body tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Link manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Link swats away the attempt to clinch by Body.
Link shoots for a takedown but Body saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Body tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Link paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some Body seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Body looks to clinch
enabling Link to counter with a crisp jab.

Body moves into range and clinches up with Link.
Body misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Link.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Body misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Link managing to block the knees to the body from Body.
Link blocks an elbow strike.
Link fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Body misses with a knee strike.
Link slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Body misses with the head strike.
Body lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Link or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in the clinch, Body scores with a nice short uppercut.
Body misses with some punches.
Body lands with a left to the head.
Body misses with an elbow over the top.
Body landing knees to the head.

Link escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Body tries to clinch up but Link circles away and keeps his distance.
Body is looking to clinch.

Body closes the distance and clinches.
Body tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Link avoids it.
Body fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Link breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Link fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Body takes the fight into the clinch.
Body can't find room to land a body shot as Link controls the action.
Body throws a head punch that misses.
Link managing to block the knees to the body from Body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Body misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Link.
Body crunches a lovely knee into Link's ribcage.
Body goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Body throws an elbow but misses.
Body throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Link blocks it with crossed arms.
Body misses with a body punch.
Body fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Link escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Link gets tackled into the cage by Body. Body maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Link dodges an elbow strike from Body.
Body misses with an elbow over the top.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Body.
Body trying to land knees to the body.
Link avoids a wild elbow strike from Body.
Body goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Link wants to take the fight to the mat but Body manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Some Body seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Body misses with some punches.
Link tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Body just stands there and leans against the cage.
Link managing to block the knees to the body from Body.
Body working aggressively here.
Body tries a knee to the head but Link blocks it.

Link breaks the clinch.
Body moves in looking to clinch but Link pushes him off.
Body tries to clinch there but Link circles away.
Body tries to close the distance and clinch up but Link swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Body rushes Link and presses him up against the cage.
Link slowing the pace effectively.
Link blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Body with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Body lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Body throws a head punch that misses.
Link tries to score a body lock takedown but Body shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Link breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Link with that takedown attempt.

Link tries to keep at a distance but Body has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Body utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Body lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Some Body showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Some Body's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Link keeps the fight on the outside.
Body wants to clinch.

Body darts in and clinches Link up against the cage.
Link has Body pressed against the cage.
Body trying to land knees to the body.
Body lands a body shot.
Body throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Link jumps guard but Body turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Body tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Link avoids it.
Body tries to land knees in the clinch but Link avoids the damage to the body.

Link breaks from the clinch.

Link rushes Body and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Link jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Body walks away with a smile on his face. Link gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Body tries to clinch there but Link circles away.
Body tries to clinch up but Link circles away and keeps his distance.
Body fails in his attempt to clinch.
Body fails with an attempt to clinch.
Link avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Body fails with an attempt to clinch.

Link gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Body is pressed up against the cage. Link has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Body down to the mat. Body avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Body tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Link manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Link went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Body tries to clinch but Link moves out of range.
Body fails with an attempt to clinch.
Link lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Link misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Body as Link shoots in.

Body closes the distance and pushes Link back into the cage.
Body using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Link has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Body misses with a body punch.
Link tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Body just stands there and leans against the cage.
Body tries to work over Link's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Link blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Body misses with a body punch.
Body tries to work over Link's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Link is trying to drag Body to the mat but Body just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Body lands with a right to the head.
Link blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Body lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Body with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Body can't find room to land a body shot as Link controls the action.
Link tries to score a body lock takedown but Body shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Body misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Body struggles to land a body shot inside as Link controls his hands.
Link has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Body is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Body struggles to land a body shot inside as Link controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Body.
Body working aggressively here.
Body throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Link blocks it with crossed arms.
Link can't break the clinch.
Body doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Body doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Body working Link over with knees to the body.
Body doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Body lands a shot to the body.
Link working hard to break the clinch.
Link blocks a body shot from Body.
Body utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Link looking to slow down the pace here.
Body lands a damaging elbow.
Body lands a body shot in the clinch.
Body trying to land knees to the body.
Link tries to break free but Body pushes him back against the cage.
Body misses with a body punch.
Body tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Link avoids it.
Body tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Link's elbow.
Link tries to pull guard but Body won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Body missing with knees to the body.
Body throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Link blocks it with crossed arms.
A short body shot lands from Body as the two fighters clinch.
James Link has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some Body is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Body doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Some Body comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Body winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Some Body!
After winning the bout, Some Body thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.