PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Jacobsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael James has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

James
vs
Jacobsen

190 cm
22
185 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

ENDLESS 152

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Simon Jacobsen!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Jacobsen which made him look bad.
Jacobsen wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Jacobsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jacobsen is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Jacobsen tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michael James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jacobsen takes the fight into the clinch.
James is working for takedown but Jacobsen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jacobsen landing knees to the body.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jacobsen missing with knees to the body.
Jacobsen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
James is breathing heavily.
Jacobsen connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Jacobsen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
James fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Michael James has been cut.
Jacobsen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James takes a shot to the head.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jacobsen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James tries for a takedown but Jacobsen manages to get underhooks.
Jacobsen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jacobsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Jacobsen lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacobsen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jacobsen connects with a knee to the head.
Jacobsen lands a nice uppercut.
Jacobsen landing knees to the body.
Jacobsen connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Jacobsen misses with a knee strike.

Jacobsen successfully pulls guard.
Jacobsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
Jacobsen tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Jacobsen stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to pass the guard but Jacobsen is keeping the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jacobsen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.
Jacobsen pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jacobsen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Jacobsen sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep. Jacobsen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Jacobsen seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.
Jacobsen tries to pass the half guard into mount. James knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
James tries to get to full guard but Jacobsen has control of the leg.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Jacobsen sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jacobsen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James shoots in and drives through. Jacobsen sprawls well.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jacobsen's waist but Jacobsen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jacobsen tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

Jacobsen pushes James up against the ropes in a clinch.
Jacobsen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jacobsen misses with a knee to the head.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Jacobsen.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Jacobsen.
Jacobsen lands a nice knee to the body.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Jacobsen.
Jacobsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Jacobsen lands with a left to the head.
Jacobsen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Jacobsen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael James's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James pushes Jacobsen up against the ropes in a clinch.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jacobsen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jacobsen walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jacobsen clinches but James breaks the clinch

and James counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by James.
James is looking to advance position but Jacobsen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
James working to try and regain half guard.
Jacobsen content just to control the position here.
James tries to improve his position but instead Jacobsen has taken his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to break free.
James is working hard here to advance position.
Jacobsen wants to control but James is keeping busy.
What can James do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
James is keeping busy.
I really don't envy James right now.

That's two 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 tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
James looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Jacobsen controlling the position well here. James rolled but Jacobsen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on James's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Jacobsen tries to keep control of the position but James is staying busy.
James is trying to break free.
Jacobsen slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is in bad spot here.

Jacobsen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Jacobsen is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Jacobsen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
James rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four 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.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James closes the distance but Jacobsen moves to the side
and Jacobsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jacobsen tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jacobsen sprawls well. Jacobsen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Jacobsen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jacobsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jacobsen closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Jacobsen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Michael James's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jacobsen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jacobsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Jacobsen closes the distance and clinches.
Jacobsen has a couple of punches blocked by James.
Jacobsen missing with knees to the body.
Jacobsen landing knees to the head.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jacobsen takes the fight into the clinch.
Jacobsen tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James can't get the takedown.
Jacobsen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jacobsen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jacobsen pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Jacobsen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jacobsen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jacobsen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacobsen pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.
Jacobsen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Jacobsen tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.

James pulls Jacobsen into guard.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jacobsen is aware though and is defending well.

James is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jacobsen defends well.
Jacobsen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Jacobsen wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacobsen preventing the sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Jacobsen trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

James is looking for a triangle here but Jacobsen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
James is not content to let Jacobsen control the position.
James prevents Jacobsen from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James regains half guard.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
James has a hand on Jacobsen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Jacobsen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Jacobsen is looking to work his way around to James's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
James is wriggling around trying to escape.
James tries to improve his position but instead Jacobsen has taken his back!
James tries to break free.
Jacobsen has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of James's body.
Jacobsen is trying to stick to James's back but James is turning into Jacobsen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Jacobsen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by James.

That's four 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.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Jacobsen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

James has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jacobsen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for James.
Simon Jacobsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

James is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jacobsen defends it well.
Michael James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James prevents Jacobsen from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Jacobsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jacobsen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Jacobsen!