PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James King (ranked 294 p4p, 457 weight class) and Atticus Finch (ranked 31 p4p, 52 weight class). Finch has chosen Ghetto Bird- Ice Cube as his entrance music. 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.

King
vs
Finch

170 cm
33
146
25 - 13 - 2

178 cm
34
156
26 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Bondi MMA 🏝️

NARCOS
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Atticus Finch!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by King.
We've been told by King's head coaches at Crapollas Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Finch throws a right hand that misses
and King counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finch takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
King finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
King misses with the body kick
letting Finch counter with a right hand.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Finch.
King misses with a two punch combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Finch! But no joy.
A big right from Finch misses.
Finch clobbers King with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
King throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Finch lands with an uppercut that bounces King off the cage and back into range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
King takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
King throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Finch was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
An inside leg kick from Finch misses.
An inside leg kick from King misses.
A cross from Finch lands.
Finch is looking to score with low kicks.
King pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Finch! But no joy.
Finch misses with a straight right.
Finch has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
King shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Finch just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch tries to land a leg kick but King saw it coming and moves away.
Finch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by King.
King moves out of range as Finch strikes.
King throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.
A head kick misses from King.
King uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finch.
Finch with the inside leg kick.
Finch takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
King throws a solid leg kick but Finch takes the impact on his shin and smiles at King.
Finch flicks out a counter leg kick but King steps away.
Finch misses with an uppercut.
King throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
King tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch avoids a kick to the body.
Finch was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
King swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
King steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Finch.
Finch lands a slapping body shot.
Finch throws a series of strikes that have King backpedaling.
Finch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from King.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A cross from King lands.
Finch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by King.

King instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
King lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Finch trying to stall but King improves his position.
Finch managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Finch displaying some good clinch control by pressing King up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by King.
King is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Finch stalling in the clinch but King improves position.
King lands a right hand.
King looking to throw knees to the head but Finch is blocking nicely.
King connects with a nasty looking knee right to Finch's face.
Finch throws an elbow but it misses.
King's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Finch breaks the clinch.
Finch throws a nice looking combination but King bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
King misses with a body kick.
Finch connects with a jab.
King looks to land a right hand but Finch moved out of range.
Finch throws a low kick but King avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
King dodges the punch combination from Finch.
King tries to clinch but Finch is having none of it.
A head kick misses from King.
King throws a hook to the side of Finch's head but Finch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
King wants to clinch up but Finch keeps it at a distance.
King checks the leg kick nicely there.
King darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
King walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Finch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from King.
The fighters circling - King throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Finch throws a poor cross that misses
enabling King to counter with a crisp jab.
Atticus Finch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A bone on bone clash there as King blocks the leg kick.
King avoids the body shot from Finch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Finch misses with an uppercut.
Finch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as King throws out the jab.
Finch dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on King. That did some damage!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finch blocks a head kick by King.
Finch with the inside leg kick.
Finch looks to throw the jab but King is out of range.
King has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Finch.
King throws a jab when Finch was well out of range.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finch misses with a telegraphed body shot
and King counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
King showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finch.
King swings and misses with a hook to the body.

King moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King connects with a nasty looking knee right to Finch's face.
Finch tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.
King throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Finchs head.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.
King using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Finch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
King blocks a body shot from Finch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James King will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Finch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Finch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
King is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Finch.
Finch connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Finch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but King moves away.
Finch on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from King.
Finch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Finch misses with an uppercut. King saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from King.
Finch looks to land a right hand but King moved out of range.
King bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Atticus Finch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finch darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Finch digs a good body shot into King's ribs.
Finch misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finch looks to throw the jab but King is out of range.
King moves away from the strike by Finch.
King takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Finch goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Finch scores with a jab. King acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Finch looks to score with a jab to the body but King is just out of range.
Finch throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nice body kick from King.
Finch throws a quick head kick that skims the top of King's head.
Finch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by King. King obviously looking to wear him down.
Finch misses the shot to the body.
King throws a right hand that Finch ducks under and follows up with a left that Finch also avoids with ease.
Finch throws a jab but it's blocked by King.
King connects with a high kick.
King misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finch.
Finch feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kings jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
King waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Finch.
Finch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
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!
Finch misses with a looping right.
Finch throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent King stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Finch in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Finch was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
King moves out of range as Finch strikes.
Finch will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Finch throws a hook to the side of King's head but King sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
King misses with an uppercut. Finch saw that one coming.
Finch throws out a counter right but King avoids it with no problem.
King throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Finch misses with a straight right.
King ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A head kick misses from King.
King tries to land a front kick but Finch steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Finch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finch fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
King throws a looping overhand right but Finch ducks down to avoid it.
Finch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Finch scores with a nice right hand.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Finch moves out of range easily.
Finch tries to score with a low kick but King moves his leg out of the way.
A left lands for King.
The fighters circling - King throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Finch flicks out a counter leg kick but King steps away.
Finch misses with a right hand
and King counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finch throws a chopping leg kick but King manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and King counters with a nice uppercut.
Finch looks to throw the jab but King is out of range.
Finch is looking to score with low kicks.
King scores with a punch to the head.
King checks a leg kick.
Finch looks to land a left hand but King moved out of range nicely.
Finch slips under a jab from King.
Finch replies with a solid counter kick to the body but King blocks it well.
Finch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
King slips under a jab from Finch.
King takes a swing at Finch's ribcage but misses.
Finch looks to score with a jab to the body but King is just out of range.
King misses with a low kick.
Finch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
King misses with a low kick.
Finch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
King steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Finch.
King connects with a high kick.
Finch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Finch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
King avoids the body shot from Finch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finch throws a shot from downtown. King moves away and avoids it.
King lands a jab to the head.
Finch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from King.
A swing and a miss from King.
King throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finch.
Finch throws a counter combo.
Finch moves out of range of the body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Finch! But no joy.
Finch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Finch slips a jab from King.
King keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Finch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Finch connects with a good right hand that stumbles King. King circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
King moves out of range of the body kick from Finch.
The fighters circling - Finch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
King is looking to slow Finch down with leg kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finch.
Finch blocks a head kick by King.
King moves out of range of the strikes.
Finch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Finch lets loose with a powerful body kick. King will feel that in the morning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Atticus Finch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! King's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

King throws a leg kick but Finch sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A jab lands there for Finch.
Finch throws a hook but King blocks it.
A nice combination there by Finch.
King takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Finch.
King wants to clinch up but Finch keeps it at a distance.
King misses the shot to the body.
Finch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Finch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and King counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
King connects with a body shot.
Finch throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Finch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by King.
King slips under a jab from Finch.
Finch misses with a hook

and King counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by King.
James King has scored more points in the clinch so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
King lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Finch is looking to control King's arms but King gets an underhook and turns him. Now Finch has his back to the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
King misses with a head kick.
King throws a low kick but Finch avoids it.
Finch misses with the combination.
King misses with a looping right.
King scores with a punch to the head.
King tries to clinch up but Finch circles away and keeps his distance.
King tries to clinch up but Finch circles away and keeps his distance.
Finch follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
King ducks under a wild hook from Finch.
Good exchange - Finch coming out on top.
Finch connects with a good right hand that stumbles King. King circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Finch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Finch scores with a hook.
King misses with a body kick.
Finch throws a fast counter high kick but King manages to duck under it in time.
Finch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by King. King obviously looking to wear him down.
A big right from Finch misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finch. King does a little dance to reset his feet.
A good leg kick by King.

King rushes Finch and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Finch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Finch scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Finch connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Finch tries to land a leg kick but King saw it coming and moves away.
King throws a shot from downtown. Finch moves away and avoids it.
King swinging wildly here.
Finch avoids the head kick by King.
Finch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Finch throws a quick inside leg kick.
King looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
King misses with a low kick as Finch jumps back.
Finch's corner calls for a 1-2. Finch obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. King darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Finch throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from King on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Finch throws a front kick aimed at King's knee but King avoids it well.
Finch moves out of range of the body kick from King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Finch.
Finch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. King sees it coming and avoids it easily.
King on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Finch blocks a jab.
King throws an overhand right that lands on Finch's shoulder, as Finch tries to avoid the shot.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King thows a left - swing and a miss!
Finch stuns King with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
King looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
King finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
King jabs Finch to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Finch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Finch throws a looping overhand right but King ducks down to avoid it.
Finch swings for the body but King moves out of range.
Finch thows a left - swing and a miss!

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Finch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from King.

Finch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finch walks into a stiff left hand from King.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch feints and then cracks King's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow King down.
Finch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finch throws a lazy uppercut
and King connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
King tries to clinch up.
King throws a body shot but no joy.
Finch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
King thows a left - swing and a miss!
Finch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A low kick lands for King.
King lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Finch misses with an uppercut. King saw that one coming.
King walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Finch looks to land a right hand but King moved out of range.
King half committed to a counter leg kick.
Finch throws a looping overhand right but King ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
King misses the shot to the body.
Finch misses with an uppercut.
Finch pivots, looking for a leg kick but King is out of range and Finch settles back down.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Finch circles away.
A little jabbing left from Finch on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Atticus Finch.
I think Finch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for James King!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Atticus Finch!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for James King!

James King wins by split decision!
After the big win, James King made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors HELLBENT and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.