PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Justin Moore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Moore might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Could Kick Your Ass. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Moore
vs
James

178 cm
21
154 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Moore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moore tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moore somewhat.
Moore throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

James clinches up against the cage.
James blocks a body shot from Moore.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Moore is blocking nicely.
Moore keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Moore stalling in the clinch.
Moore tries for a takedown. No joy.
Moore with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.

Moore breaks the clinch.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
James lands with an uppercut that bounces Moore off the cage and back into rage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moore dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Moore's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moore takes one to the side of the head.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Moore, pushing him back against the cage.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
A frustrated look appears on Moore's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Moore pulls his leg out and moves away.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jesse James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Moore clinches but James breaks the clinch
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws a right hand that Moore ducks under and follows up with a left that Moore also avoids with ease.
Moore fails with the takedown
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Moore.
Moore throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
Moore throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James throws a shot to the body.
Moore doesn't succeed with the takedown

and James counters by clinching up.
Moore is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moore is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James lands a left hand.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Moore has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Moore breaks the clinch.

James closes the distance and clinches.

Moore jumps into guard, dragging James to the mat.
James stands up over Moore, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Moore looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James postures up in Moore's guard and throws a big left but Moore blocks it.
Moore avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Moore's head.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Moore has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moore has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a body kick that stops Moore in his tracks momentarily.
James scores with a leg kick.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Moore shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
James tries to bum rush Moore with a series of wild strikes but Moore uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Moore tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James tries to clinch but Moore is having none of it.
Moore keeps the fight on the outside.
Moore throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a nice kick to the body.
Moore throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moore avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from James - that will leave a mark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a wild combination.
Moore thows a leg kick but James checks it
and James counters with a straight right hand.

James rushes Moore and presses him up against the cage.
Moore is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Moore down to the mat. Moore avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James tries to clinch but Moore moves out of range.
Moore takes one on the button.
James tries to clinch but Moore moves out of range.
Moore tries to clinch
and James counters with a nice kick to the body.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Moore moves out of range easily.
Moore misses with a hook to the body

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Moore has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moore stops a takedown attempt from James.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
Justin Moore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse James.
James is trying to break the clinch but Moore is controlling him.

Moore's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moore throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and James counters with a two punch combo.
Moore doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Moore takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Moore shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James scores with a nice head shot.
Moore thows a leg kick but James checks it
letting James counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moore avoids the head kick by James.
James stuns Moore with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Justin Moore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James throws a series of punches but Moore avoids them all with ease.
Justin Moore is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
James throws a head kick that misses.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Moore tries to clinch up

and James counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Moore creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Moore prevents it.
James is trying to force a seperation but Moore has the dominant position.

Moore has dropped down and is working for a takedown. James is trying to keep an underhook but Moore manages to get the takedown into half guard.
James has a hand on Moore's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Moore takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Moore content just to control the position here.
James is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Moore putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
James wants to hold on but Moore pushes him away.
James is squirming around, avoiding Moore's attempts to control the action.
James wants to hold on but Moore pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Moore's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Moore fails with the takedown

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Moore is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Moore has his back to the cage.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Moore pulls him back up using the underhooks.
James connects with a nasty looking knee right to Moore's face.

Moore's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James scores with a one two! Moore had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The fighters circle momentarily. James darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
James lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Moore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

James darts in and clinches Moore up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moore has James pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. James manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James can't get the takedown.
A frustrated look appears on Moore's face as he tries to break the clinch.

James breaks from the clinch.
James tries to clinch but Moore is having none of it.
Moore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Moore backing up. Moore nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Crunch! James slams his shin into Moore's torso.
Moore shoots and misses
and James counters with a leg kick.
Nice cross by James.
Jesse James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
James looks to land a combination but Moore avoids it well.
James cracks Moore with a good jab.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Moore tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a good low kick that Moore was not able to check.
James connects with a high kick.
James lands with a shot to the body.
James throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James rushes Moore and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Moore pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Moore misses with a takedown
and James counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A right-left combo lands from James.

James pushes Moore up against the cage in a clinch.
Moore fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James working hard to break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by James.
James drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Moore lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to improve his position.

James has one foot on Moore's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
James throws a head kick that half lands.
James stuns Moore with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Moore tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Moore has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

James manages to break the clinch.
Moore misses with a takedown attempt
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
Justin Moore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

James darts in and clinches Moore up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

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