PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James San Claire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noel is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Noel
vs
San Claire

177 cm
22
163 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jay Noel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James San Claire!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
San Claire doesn't manage to clinch there - Noel circles away.
James San Claire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noel is breathing heavily.
Noel throws a series of punches but San Claire moves out of range.
San Claire is looking to clinch but Noel is avoiding it.
San Claire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noel keeps the fight on the outside.
San Claire tries to clinch up but Noel circles away and keeps his distance.
Noel swats away the attempt to clinch by San Claire.
San Claire doesn't manage to clinch there - Noel circles away.
Noel keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
San Claire tries to clinch up.
San Claire avoids a punch combination nicely.
Noel throws a nice looking combination but San Claire bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

San Claire clinches.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
San Claire creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Noel's defenses.
San Claire landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
San Claire throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Noel blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees to the body from San Claire.
San Claire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
San Claire misses with an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from San Claire.
The referee calls for San Claire to work.
San Claire misses with a knee to the head.
San Claire lands a nice elbow.
Noel takes an elbow to the forehead.
San Claire lands an elbow that stopped Noel in his tracks for a moment.
Noel wants to break the clinch but can't.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from San Claire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for San Claire.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
San Claire with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
San Claire creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
San Claire lands an elbow that stopped Noel in his tracks for a moment.
San Claire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
San Claire utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
San Claire throws an elbow but it's blocked.
San Claire is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
San Claire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Noel is defending well for now.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
San Claire stalling the fight.
With the fighters up against the cage, San Claire throws an elbow but misses.
Noel takes an elbow to the temple.
San Claire stalling the fight.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. San Claire obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
San Claire controlling the action here for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. San Claire obliges.
San Claire is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
San Claire tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
San Claire unloads a knee to the mid-section.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
San Claire lands an elbow inside that Noel shrugs off.
San Claire will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Noel up against the cage.
San Claire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
San Claire lands an elbow that stopped Noel in his tracks for a moment.
San Claire manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
San Claire scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Claire lands a nice elbow.
Noel takes a knee to the side of the body.
San Claire landing knees to the body.
Noel takes an elbow to the temple.
San Claire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
San Claire creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Noel's defenses.
San Claire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
San Claire missing with knees to the body.
San Claire tries a knee to the head but Noel blocks it.
San Claire tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
San Claire lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
San Claire lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
San Claire keeps control of Noel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
San Claire is stalling here.
San Claire lands an elbow inside that Noel shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James San Claire dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Noel keeps the fight on the outside.
San Claire wants to clinch up but Noel keeps it at a distance.
Noel circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Noel misses.
San Claire wants to clinch up but Noel keeps it at a distance.
Jay Noel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
San Claire fails in his attempt to clinch.
San Claire is looking to clinch but Noel is avoiding it.
San Claire moves away from the strike by Noel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Claire doesn't manage to clinch there - Noel circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
San Claire tries to clinch there but Noel circles away.

San Claire has Noel up against the cage in a clinch.
James San Claire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Claire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
San Claire avoiding damage.
San Claire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel takes an elbow to the temple.
San Claire lands an elbow just above Noel 's eye.
San Claire slowing the pace effectively.
San Claire scores with a knee to the head.
San Claire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Noel takes an elbow to the temple.
San Claire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Noel is defending well for now.
San Claire crunches a lovely knee into Noel's ribcage.
Noel takes an elbow to the temple.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from San Claire in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
San Claire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
San Claire lands an elbow inside that Noel shrugs off.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
San Claire throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
San Claire is stalling here.
San Claire lands an elbow inside.
San Claire comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
San Claire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Noel is defending well for now.
San Claire lands an elbow that stopped Noel in his tracks for a moment.
Noel letting San Claire take a breather here.
San Claire throws an elbow that misses.
San Claire lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
San Claire tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Noel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but San Claire has him pressed against the cage.
Come on San Claire - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
San Claire comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
San Claire lands a nice elbow.
San Claire misses with a knee strike.
San Claire leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Claire is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Noel is keeping busy.
A frustrated look appears on Noel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
San Claire missing with knees to the body.
San Claire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
San Claire with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice glancing elbow lands by San Claire.
San Claire is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Noel as San Claire tries to tie him up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by San Claire.
San Claire lands a nice elbow.
San Claire putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Noel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

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.
San Claire has Noel pushed against the cage.
San Claire creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Noel's defenses.
San Claire effectively controlling the action here.
San Claire looking to throw knees to the head but Noel is blocking nicely.
San Claire lands an elbow inside that Noel shrugs off.
San Claire leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by James San Claire.
San Claire tries to clinch up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - San Claire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James San Claire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

San Claire tries to clinch there but Noel circles away.
Noel throws a shot from downtown. San Claire moves away and avoids it.
The fight stays on the outside here - San Claire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
San Claire tries to clinch but Noel moves out of range.
San Claire fails with an attempt to clinch.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Noel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Claire tries to clinch but Noel moves out of range.
San Claire fails in his attempt to clinch.
San Claire tries to clinch up but Noel circles away and keeps his distance.
San Claire avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
San Claire is looking to clinch.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
San Claire tries to clinch there but Noel circles away.
San Claire wants to clinch up but Noel keeps it at a distance.
San Claire fails in his attempt to clinch.
San Claire wants to clinch.
San Claire fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two 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.
San Claire moves in looking to clinch but Noel pushes him off.
San Claire tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
San Claire tries to clinch there but Noel circles away.
San Claire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
San Claire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Noel swats away the attempt to clinch by San Claire.
San Claire tries to clinch up.
San Claire tries to clinch but Noel moves out of range.
San Claire tries to clinch up.
San Claire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel circles away from the clinch attempt.
San Claire fails in his attempt to clinch.
San Claire is looking to clinch.
Noel swats away the attempt to clinch by San Claire.
Noel keeps the fight on the outside.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Noel swats away the attempt to clinch by San Claire.
San Claire moves in looking to clinch but Noel pushes him off.
San Claire wants to clinch.

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.
San Claire tries to clinch up but Noel circles away and keeps his distance.
San Claire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
San Claire wants to clinch.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
San Claire doesn't manage to clinch there - Noel circles away.
San Claire tries to clinch up.
Jay Noel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James San Claire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Noel keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That round was too close to call.
Well San Claire 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 William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

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