PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor MachidaSilva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
MachidaSilva

200 cm
18
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gary James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fedor MachidaSilva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in MachidaSilva's guard.
James trying to control but MachidaSilva is working from the bottom.
James won't allow MachidaSilva to get back to his feet.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James postures up in MachidaSilva's guard and throws a big left but MachidaSilva blocks it.
James wanted to stand there but MachidaSilva had control of the position.
MachidaSilva seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
James prevents MachidaSilva from getting back to his feet.

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and MachidaSilva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between MachidaSilva's legs - danger averted.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for MachidaSilva on the ground.

MachidaSilva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James wants to control from the top but MachidaSilva keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to stand but MachidaSilva is controlling his posture from full guard.
MachidaSilva working a defensive guard here.
MachidaSilva looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
MachidaSilva keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
MachidaSilva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but MachidaSilva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

James shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. MachidaSilva is trying to defend but James finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
MachidaSilva blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MachidaSilva is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
James seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to take a break and control but MachidaSilva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
MachidaSilva is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
MachidaSilva wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
MachidaSilva wants to clinch.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. MachidaSilva sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
MachidaSilva looks like he's trying to stand up.
James trying to control the action but MachidaSilva is working from the bottom.
James is breathing heavily.
MachidaSilva is trying to stand up here but James is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

MachidaSilva kicks James off and gets back to his feet.
MachidaSilva is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. MachidaSilva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
MachidaSilva wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary James dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
MachidaSilva doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.

James gets a clinch.
MachidaSilva throws an elbow but it misses.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, MachidaSilva throws an elbow but misses.
James has MachidaSilva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. MachidaSilva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
James trying to control the position but instead, MachidaSilva has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. MachidaSilva obliges.
MachidaSilva lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Gary James has been cut.
MachidaSilva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Come on MachidaSilva - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
MachidaSilva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
MachidaSilva lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

MachidaSilva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MachidaSilva closes the distance but James moves to the side

so James counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but MachidaSilva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James stops MachidaSilva from standing up.
MachidaSilva controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
MachidaSilva wants to stand up but James is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
MachidaSilva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
MachidaSilva is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
MachidaSilva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by James.
MachidaSilva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
MachidaSilva lands a nice elbow.
MachidaSilva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
James drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James managing to block the knees to the body from MachidaSilva.
MachidaSilva lands a knee to the head.
MachidaSilva stops a takedown attempt from James.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, MachidaSilva just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
MachidaSilva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by MachidaSilva.

James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics MachidaSilva uses from the top position.
James has a closed guard, preventing MachidaSilva from standing up.

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

James has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. MachidaSilva 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.

MachidaSilva stands up and beckons James to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from MachidaSilva.

MachidaSilva rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
MachidaSilva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
MachidaSilva scores a nice knee to the body.
MachidaSilva tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
MachidaSilva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
MachidaSilva missing with knees to the body.
MachidaSilva missing with knees to the body.
James tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MachidaSilva smiles and moves away.
MachidaSilva darts in trying to clinch
and James counters with a head kick.
MachidaSilva blocks a head kick by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor MachidaSilva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gary James's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

MachidaSilva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and James counters with a good low kick that MachidaSilva was not able to check.
MachidaSilva tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Gary James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - MachidaSilva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MachidaSilva is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
MachidaSilva tries to clinch but James moves away

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. MachidaSilva won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MachidaSilva tries to escape but James is in control.
James throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
James throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James controls the position from side control.
James tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MachidaSilva is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, James asserts his dominance and retains side control.
MachidaSilva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gary James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
MachidaSilva gets back to full guard.
MachidaSilva is trying to keep James in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
James looking to sit in guard and control but MachidaSilva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

MachidaSilva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
MachidaSilva closes the distance looking to clinch

and James counters with a takedown into side control.
MachidaSilva manages to get back to half guard.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

James seems to be working for a kimura but MachidaSilva defends the submission attempt.

MachidaSilva kicks James off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
MachidaSilva clinches but James breaks the clinch

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
MachidaSilva landing knees to the body.
MachidaSilva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James avoiding damage as MachidaSilva throws knees to the body.
MachidaSilva drops down looking for an ankle pick but James pulls his leg out and moves away.
MachidaSilva wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as MachidaSilva sprawls well. MachidaSilva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
MachidaSilva is looking to clinch.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary James!