PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Snake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Snake
vs
James

200 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Kevin Snake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael James!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.

Snake moves into range and clinches up with James.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Snake won't allow it.
James tries to circle away but Snake has him pinned against the cage.
Snake is trying to drag James to the mat but James just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Snake has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James tries to circle away but Snake has him pinned against the cage.
Snake is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snake wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.
Snake tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James is trying to force a seperation but Snake has the dominant position.
James has had enough of the clinch but Snake keeps him there for the moment.
James is trying to break free.

James breaks from the clinch.
Snake looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Snake counters with a two punch combo.
James misses with a kick to the body.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Snake moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Snake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James throws a combination that misses
and Snake counters with a nice body kick.
James looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James misses with a double jab
and Snake counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Snake.
James takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Snake.
Snake tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Snake on that attempt.
Snake fails with an attempt to clinch.
James misses with a kick to the body
and Snake counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. James is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Snake fails in his attempt to clinch.
James should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
James throws a right and a left that Snake avoids nicely.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Snake counters with a thumping low kick.
Snake tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Snake looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Snake throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Snake throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James pushes Snake off looking to stand but Snake dives back in and keeps control.
James tries to kick Snake off in order to stand up. Snake Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Snake trying to control the position but James is working away.
Snake lands an elbow.
James parries the strikes from Snake easily there. Snake is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Snake has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James throws a combination that misses
and Snake counters with a nice body kick.
Snake lands with a nice body punch.
Snake tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Snake misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James throws a sloppy head kick
and Snake counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Michael James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James is looking to score with low kicks.
Snake avoids the head kick by James.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Snake moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Snake looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Snake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Snake circles away quickly and effectively.
Snake fails with the takedown.
Snake closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Snake pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Snake takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Snake fails with an attempt to clinch.
Snake avoids a punch combination nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James misses with the combination.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Snake dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Snake scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
Snake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Snake tries to move into range but James moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
James lands a jab-cross combination.
James feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Snake's calf.
James with a jab.
James lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by James.
Snake fails with a takedown attempt.
James swinging wilding here.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Snake circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
James lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
James misses with the combination.

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.
James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Snake at a distance.
Snake shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Snake counters with a two punch combo.
Snake wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Snake shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Snake's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Snake fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kevin Snake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from James both land. Nice combination.
James throws a leg kick but Snake sees it coming and moves out of range.
Snake moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
A left and a right from James both land. Nice combination.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Snake circles away quickly and effectively.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice body kick there by James.
James looks to land a combination. Snake sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Snake throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nice body kick from James.
Snake tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
James displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
James avoids the head kick by Snake.
James throws a series of punches but Snake avoids them all with ease.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James misses with the combination.
Michael James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thuds a left hand into Snake's body.
James throws and low kick but Snake moves out of range easily.
Snake shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Snake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James throws a combination that misses

and Snake counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Snake keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Snake drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
James can't break the clinch.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James wants to break free but Snake has control.

Snake pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snake lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for James!
James is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Snake looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James is trying to stand.
James is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Snake is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but James is surviving well by controlling Snake's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Snake's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Snake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Snake connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
James swinging wilding here.
Snake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
James throws a series of punches but Snake moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Snake fails to land the takedown.
James looks to land a combination but Snake avoids it well.
Snake blocks the body kick.
Kevin Snake is winning the standup battle so far.
James walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Snake checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to work over Snake's front leg with a kick but Snake checks it.
Snake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A punch combination from James misses.
Snake shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A punch combination from James misses.
James connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Snake's hands.
Snake shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James misses with a double jab
and Snake counters with a three punch combo that has James backing up. James nods at Snake to acknowledge the strikes.
Snake looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
Snake steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.

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 misses with a double jab.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Snake is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Snake tries to clinch up.
James throws a lazy body kick
and Snake counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
Snake misses with a body shot.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James just misses with a punch to the body.

Snake fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. James sprawls well initially but Snake persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snake is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Snake tries to pass to full mount but James defends it.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Snake.
Snake has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Snake throws a strike but James avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Snake. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Snake is controlling him.
Snake trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

James uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Snake will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Snake counters with a big head kick but James shrugs it off.
Snake wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by James!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Snake tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Snake takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
A combination from James does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael James.
I think James 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

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