PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ariel Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Ballad of Jesse James as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Levin
vs
James

165 cm
26
145 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariel Levin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Levin throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Levin.
Levin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Levin throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Levin sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Levin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Levin is looking for a kimura here.
Levin working over James with some ground and pound. James looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
James wants to improve his position but Levin is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Levin prevents James from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Levin is looking for a kimura here.
James wants to improve his position but Levin is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Levin.

Levin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. James sprawls well initially but Levin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Levin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Levin seems to be looking for submissions.
Levin is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Levin sits in half guard.
James manages to get to full guard.
Levin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
James working a defensive guard here.
Levin stopping the sweep attempt from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James looking for subs off his back but Levin has passed one foot through into half guard.
Levin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
James wants to control but Levin passes into side.
Levin wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Levin cracks James with a big right hand but James just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Levin tries to pass to full mount but James defends it.
James regains full guard. Nicely done.
Levin 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.
James is adopting a defensive guard.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Levin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Levin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Levin moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice shot lands for James.
A big right from James misses.
James takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Levin. James shrugs it off though.
Levin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A low kick from James is predictable there
and Levin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. James is lucky that one didn't land flush.
James misses with a double jab

and Levin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in James's guard.

Levin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Levin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
James keeping full guard, as Levin tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levin working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Levin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Levin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
Levin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Levin looking for a sweep. Not yet Levin, not yet.

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.
James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Levin's guard.
James is just content to waste time from the top position. Levin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Levin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ariel Levin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Levin has James pulled in close to control his posture.

Levin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James trying to control but Levin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to advance position but Levin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Levin prevents James from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Levin connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Levin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
James can't escape the position.
Levin landing strikes, looking to finish!
James wants to control but Levin is having none of it.
James is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levin landing shots from mount.
James is bucking up trying to escape but Levin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
James is wriggling around trying to escape.
James wants to try and get back to his feet.
Levin with shots to the head and body - James looks very uncomfortable down there.

Levin has control of James's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and James regains control of the situation pretty easily.
James is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Levin lands a nice looking body shot.
Levin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Levin misses with a wild body shot.
James misses with a looping right.

James gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Levin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Levin wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Levin with a flurry of punches that miss.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Levin throws a big right hand that misses.
Levin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levin postures up.
James wants to stand up but Levin is controlling him.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Levin connects with a solid leg kick.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Levin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Levin tries a head kick but it misses.
A big right from James misses.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A good leg kick by James.
Levin lands a nice leg kick that just misses James's sensitive parts.
Good standup being displayed there by Levin as he connects with a hook.

Levin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Levin lands a nice short elbow.
James tries to get to full guard but Levin has control of the leg.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Levin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
James trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Levin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. James doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Levin.
Ariel Levin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Levin slows the pace down in half guard.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Levin pulls his head out easily.
Levin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four 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.
James is trying to maintain the position but Levin is very close to passing his half guard.
Levin stalling.
Jesse James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Levin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
James wants to control but Levin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ariel Levin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Levin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ariel Levin!