PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Duke (ranked 2737 p4p, 3915 weight class) and Jair Pitts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Duke is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Duke
vs
Pitts

178 cm
25
158
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Duke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jair Pitts!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duke catches Pitts with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pitts.
Duke is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Pitts.

Duke closes the distance and clinches.
Pitts has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Duke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Duke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
Duke lands a right hand.
Duke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Duke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pittss head.
Pitts wants a takedown.
James Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jair Pitts.
Duke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
Duke cracks Pitts with a nice body shot.
Duke swings wildly with an uppercut but Pitts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pitts tries for a takedown but Duke manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke lands with a light punch inside.
Duke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Duke lands a left hand.
Pitts wants a takedown.
Duke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pitts takes a shot to the head.
Duke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pitts's elbow.
Duke digs a right hand into Pitts's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pitts's gas tank.

Duke breaks the clinch.
Pitts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Pitts tries to keep at a distance but Duke has taken the fight into the clinch.
Duke pushes Pitts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Duke scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duke pushes Pitts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pitts changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Duke fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Duke has closed the distance and engaged Pitts in a clinch.
Pitts's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Duke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Duke lands with a short shot to the head.
Duke struggles to land a body shot inside as Pitts controls his hands.
Duke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Duke.
Duke lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Duke.
Duke lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pitts's elbow.
A left hand lands to the body for Duke.
Duke gets through Pitts's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Duke looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Duke lands with a right to the head.
Duke scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Duke.
Duke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pitts looking for a takedown.
Duke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Duke digs a right hand into Pitts's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pitts's gas tank.
Duke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Duke.
Duke tries a body shot but Pitts blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duke has a couple of punches blocked by Pitts.
A short right from Duke on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Duke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Duke lands a shot to the body.
Pitts has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Duke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Duke lands a body punch.
Duke makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Duke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pittss head.
Duke scores with a shot to the side of Pitts's head.
Duke lands with a right to the head.
Duke taking a breather.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pitts fails with the takedown.
Pitts closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab lands there for Duke.
Pitts is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pitts shoots in looking for a takedown. Duke tries to sprawl out of it but Pitts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Duke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jair Pitts.

Duke instigates a clinch.
Pitts goes for a takedown attempt but Duke pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pitts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Duke as he avoids it easily.
Duke throws out a powerful jab.
Pitts fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Duke clinches.
Pitts wants a takedown.
Duke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Duke.
A short right from Duke on the inside.
Duke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Duke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Duke.
Duke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Duke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pitts's elbow.
Pitts wants a takedown but no success here.
Pitts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Duke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Duke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pitts can do to turn this around?
Duke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Duke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
Duke lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pitts wants a takedown.
Pitts is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duke lands a body punch in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Duke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Duke throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pittss head.
A shot in the inside from Duke.
Duke lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Duke lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Duke.
Pitts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Duke gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short left from Duke.
Duke is leaning against Pitts and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Duke lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitts changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Duke fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Duke rushes Pitts and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Duke.
Duke tries to throw a body punch but Pitts avoids it by throwing Duke back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Duke - that landed with a thud.
Duke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
Nice body punch from Duke.
A short left from Duke.
Duke working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Duke scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Duke.
A right handed body shot lands from Duke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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!
A short right from Duke on the inside.
Duke is working Pitts over against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Duke.
Duke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Duke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Duke lands a hook that snaps the head of Pitts backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Duke.
Duke lands with a light punch inside.
Duke gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pitts.
Pitts is looking to take this one to the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Duke dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Duke cracks a nice hook into Pitts's ribs.
Pitts shoots in for a double leg but Duke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pitts takes one to the side of the head.

Duke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pitts, pushing him back against the cage.
Duke lands a body shot in the clinch.
Duke misses with a body punch.
Duke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Duke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Duke lands a body punch in the clinch.
Duke pushes Pitts back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duke breaks the clinch.
Duke displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pitts takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Pitts is rocked!
Pitts shoots for a double leg takedown but Duke sprawls well. He's pushed Pitts's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pitts is still on wobbly legs! Can Duke finish him?
Jair Pitts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pitts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pitts darts in looking for a takedown but Duke gets double underhooks and turns Pitts into the cage.
James Duke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jair Pitts.

Duke forces Pitts back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Duke lands a nice uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Duke.
A nice right hand lands inside from Duke.
Duke tries a body shot but Pitts blocks it.
Duke lands with a right to the head.
Duke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Duke gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pitts seems to have recovered his senses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pitts looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Duke is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pitts on the ground.
Pitts wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pitts actively working from the bottom here.
Pitts has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Duke is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitts makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pitts.

Pitts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Duke defends it easily.

Pitts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
James Duke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duke postures up.

Pitts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Duke defends it easily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Duke wants to pass the guard but Pitts is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Duke connects with a right hand. Pitts shakes it off.
Pitts shoots in but no luck this time.
Duke is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
James Duke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pitts shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pitts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Duke counters by moving into the clinch.
Duke lands a body punch.
A short right from Duke.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Duke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Duke 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:24
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:24
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Duke!
In his post fight interview, James Duke started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.