PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rand James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasim Plomeros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasim Plomeros acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

James
vs
Plomeros

191 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rand James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasim Plomeros!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James is looking to clinch but Plomeros is avoiding it.
Plomeros looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Plomeros circles away from the clinch attempt.

James pushes Plomeros up against the cage in a clinch.
Plomeros prevents the takedown attempt.
James is working for takedown but Plomeros is calmly controlling the position for now.
James could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
James fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rand James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Plomeros regains guard immediately.

Plomeros kicks James off and gets to his feet.
Plomeros keeps the fight on the outside.
James scoring well with a low kick there.
James throws a head kick but Plomeros moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Plomeros defends it nicely.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Plomeros swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James dives in and grabs Plomeros's left leg, looking for a takedown. Plomeros pushes down on James's head and hops out.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Plomeros's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
James landing some decent shots from guard.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Plomeros is retaining full guard.
James prevents Plomeros from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
James tries to clinch up but Plomeros circles away and keeps his distance.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James tries to clinch up but Plomeros circles away and keeps his distance.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Plomeros tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Plomeros manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Plomeros lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as James backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Plomeros circles away.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plomeros is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Plomeros circles away and we're back to standing.
Plomeros dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on James. That did some damage!
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Plomeros avoids it really well and circles away.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Plomeros scores with a kick to the midsection.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Plomeros tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Plomeros to the ground. Plomeros escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Plomeros throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plomeros is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Plomeros circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
James tries to clinch up.
James has a takedown stuffed.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Plomeros swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James throws a head kick but Plomeros moves out of range.
Plomeros keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Plomeros circles away from the clinch attempt.
James throws a leg kick
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rand James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James throws a lazy head kick
and Plomeros counters with a left and a right that stings James.
A low kick from James misses

and Plomeros counters by clinching up.

James gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Plomeros regains guard.
James stands and throws Plomeros's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Plomeros pushes James away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, James gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
James in side control lands a decent elbow.

James tries for a kimura but Plomeros is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Plomeros prevents James from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Plomeros!
Plomeros is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

James is going olschool here, as he tries to force Plomeros to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Plomeros shrugs it off.

James swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Plomeros is now in James's guard. A big mistake from James there, giving up the dominant position!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James stops Plomeros from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Plomeros can do anything to dispel that myth.
James looking to pass the guard.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James won't allow Plomeros to get back to his feet.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Plomeros wants to stand but James is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Plomeros stuffs the takedown.
James throws a leg kick but Plomeros sees it coming and moves out of range.
James tries to clinch but Plomeros moves away
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James misses with a takedown
and Plomeros counters with a left and a right that stings James.
James throws a leg kick
and Plomeros counters with a three punch combo that has James backing up. James nods at Plomeros to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rand James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plomeros circles away from the clinch attempt
and Plomeros counters with a left and a right that stings James.
James darts in trying to clinch
and Plomeros counters with a one-two to the body.
James throws a sloppy head kick
and Plomeros counters with a one-two to the body.
James wants to clinch but Plomeros slips to the side

and Plomeros holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Plomeros smiles and moves away.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James drops back, looking for a kneebar! Plomeros looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Plomeros looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Plomeros!
Plomeros misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Plomeros wants to stand but James is controlling his arm.
James manages to get back to half guard.
Plomeros landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Plomeros postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for James to stand up.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Plomeros counters by moving into the clinch.

Plomeros breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James looks to clinch

and Plomeros holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Plomeros is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Plomeros into the cage.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rand James will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A decent looking cross lands there for James.
A low kick from James misses
and Plomeros counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by James.
James pivots, looking for a leg kick but Plomeros is out of range and James settles back down.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Plomeros counters with a two punch combo.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Plomeros lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rand James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Plomeros comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Plomeros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James wants to pass the guard but Plomeros is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Plomeros wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
James looking to pass the guard.
Plomeros keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Plomeros wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James is looking to clinch.
James attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Plomeros gets a clinch.
James looking for a takedown.
James is trying to drag Plomeros to the mat but Plomeros just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rand James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Plomeros manages to break the clinch.
Plomeros scores with a nice strike.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
James scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to score with low kicks.
James looks to clinch

and Plomeros holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James looking for a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Plomeros lands a body shot.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Plomeros pulls his leg out and moves away.
Plomeros lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
James throws a body kick the misses
and Plomeros counters with a left and a right that stings James.
A low kick from James is predictable there
and Plomeros counters with a one-two to the body.

Plomeros forces James back against the cage and clinches.
Plomeros prevents the takedown attempt.
Plomeros utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rand James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 Plomeros walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Plomeros scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Plomeros tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James prevents Plomeros from breaking the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Plomeros throws an elbow but misses.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Plomeros just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vasim Plomeros has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Plomeros tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Plomeros back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rand James.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rand James!