PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Odegard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Odegard
vs
James

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gunnar Odegard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin James!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James looks to land a combination but Odegard avoids it well.
Odegard wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Odegard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Odegard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Odegard tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James stuns Odegard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Odegard tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Odegard somewhat.
Nice defenses there by Odegard.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Odegard tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James misses with a double jab.
Odegard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kevin James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James moves into range and connects with a jab.
Odegard moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Odegard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lunges at Odegard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Odegard's hand.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James throws a shot from downtown. Odegard moves away and avoids it.

Odegard closes the distance and clinches.
Odegard lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Odegard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
A shot in the inside from Odegard.
James lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to break the clinch but Odegard is controlling the position.
Odegard lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Odegard takes a shot to the head.
Odegard misses with some punches.
Odegard has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James blocks an uppercut.
Odegard lands a body punch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Odegard slips under a jab.
James scores with a hook to the body. Odegard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Odegard was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a hook.
James lands with a nice body punch.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Odegard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab lands there for James.
Odegard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Odegard walks into a jab.
Odegard fails in his attempt to clinch.
James getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A left lands for James.
James works Odegard's body with a nice hook.
James connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Odegard momentarily.
James throws a hook to the side of Odegard's head but Odegard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Odegard.
Odegard wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Odegard ducks under a wild hook from James.
James looks to throw the jab but Odegard is out of range.
Odegard moves away from the strike by James.
Odegard walks into a straight right hand from James.
James throws a right and a left that Odegard avoids nicely.
James connects with the punch.
Odegard fails with an attempt to clinch.
James throws a good cross that connects.
Odegard moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Odegard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Odegard tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kevin James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big right from James misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin 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 shot from downtown. Odegard moves away and avoids it.
Odegard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Odegard fails in his attempt to clinch.
James works over Odegard's head and body with a nice combination.
A big left from James misses.
James connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Odegard tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Odegard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James looks to land a combination. Odegard sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

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

Odegard stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows James to get to his feet.
James scores with a jab to the body.
James is breathing heavily.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Odegard's shoulder, as Odegard tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Odegard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Odegard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
James tries to circle away but Odegard has him pinned against the cage.
James lands a nice uppercut.
Odegard misses with the head strike.
Odegard prevents James from breaking the clinch.
James can't break the clinch.
James is trying to force a seperation but Odegard has the dominant position.
Odegard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Odegard misses with a hook from the clinch.

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.
Odegard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Odegard won't allow it.
James working hard to break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Odegard.
Odegard stalling the fight.
James is trying to break the clinch but Odegard is controlling him.
Odegard prevents a body shot from James.
A head punch on the inside from Odegard fails to land.
Odegard dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Odegard can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odegard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
Odegard misses with some punches.
James being controlled against the cage.
Odegard tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Odegard back against the cage.
Odegard throws a punch but it's blocked by James.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Odegard misses with the head strike.

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.
Odegard struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
James is trying to break free.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Odegard has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James pushes Odegard back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Odegard swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Odegard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands a left hand that snaps the head of Odegard backwards.
James is trying to break free.
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 Gunnar Odegard will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Odegard walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
James throws a series of punches but Odegard moves out of range.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James throws a nice looking combination but Odegard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kevin James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Odegard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Odegard tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Odegard.
Odegard wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Odegard needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Odegard's head backwards.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horrible takedown by Odegard or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Odegard is defended easily by James.
James fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odegard is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James works over Odegard's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Gunnar Odegard has been cut.
Odegard wants to clinch.
Odegard wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Odegard tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Odegard tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James lands a jab.
James looks to land a left hand but Odegard moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Odegard manages to avoid it.
Odegard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Odegard looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Odegard tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Odegard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gunnar Odegard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Odegard tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Odegard wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Odegard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James with a hook.
Odegard closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Odegard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Odegard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Odegard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Odegard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Odegard moves away from the strike by James.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James misses with an uppercut.
Odegard slips a straight right by James.
Odegard tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Odegard doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Odegard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James throws a lazy right hand but Odegard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Odegard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James sizes up Odegard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Odegard fails with a takedown attempt.
Odegard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James throws the left hand but Odegard avoids the punch easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

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