PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamaal Wilkensone (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.

james
vs
Wilkensone

180 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony james!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jamaal Wilkensone!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
james fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from james.

Wilkensone gets a clinch.

Wilkensone pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Wilkensone.
james misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No joy there for james, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
james jabs at Wilkensone's body.
james avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilkensone blocks a head kick by james.

Wilkensone scores with a takedown into james's guard.
Wilkensone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. james swivels though and keeps the full guard.
james wants to sweep but no luck.

james had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wilkensone defends it easily.

james is looking for a triangle but Wilkensone pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkensone trying to control the position from guard on top but james is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilkensone is looking to stand up but james won't let him.

james escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wilkensone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
james is breathing heavily.
Wilkensone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wilkensone wants to stand but james is controlling his posture from full guard.

Wilkensone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wilkensone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wilkensone 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Wilkensone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

james isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Wilkensone stacks james on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Wilkensone!
Wilkensone trying to control the position but james is working away.

Wilkensone is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. james knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Wilkensone has eaten all the pies!
james manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
james trying to hold on to Wilkensone's head to control him but Wilkensone postures up.
Wilkensone winds up and cracks james with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wilkensone blocks the strikes from james.
james is trying to maintain the position but Wilkensone is very close to passing his half guard.
Wilkensone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Wilkensone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. james looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilkensone working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkensone wants to lay and pray for a moment but james keeps working.
Wilkensone wants to stand but james has his arm trapped.
Wilkensone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with james. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
james gets back to half guard.

Wilkensone is working for a kimura but james is defending it quite comfortably.

james looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jamaal Wilkensone will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from james.
james tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wilkensone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

james escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wilkensone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wilkensone lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

james pushes Wilkensone off and scrambles back to his feet.

Wilkensone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. james looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
james is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
james manages to get back to half guard.
james is in trouble now - Wilkensone has advanced to mount!
james tries to hold on but Wilkensone postures up.

Wilkensone 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.
Wilkensone tries to control but james wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
james gets back to half guard.
Wilkensone wants to take a breather but james is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. james manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now james is on top in guard.
james throwing strikes but missing.
james passes into half guard.

james is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkensone wants to control but james is keeping busy.
james lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jamaal Wilkensone has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wilkensone is pressing down on james's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

james drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and james jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
james passes Wilkensone's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wilkensone trying to control here.

james is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wilkensone defends it well.
james will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Wilkensone wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wilkensone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wilkensone has james pulled in close to control his posture.

Wilkensone working for a triangle but james defends it easily.

james thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamaal Wilkensone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

james lands a slapping body shot.
Wilkensone avoids the head kick by james.
james lands a head kick. Wilkensone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
james misses with a head kick.

Wilkensone drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wilkensone postures up in james's guard and throws a big left but james blocks it.

james working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wilkensone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wilkensone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wilkensone prevents james from getting back to his feet.

james working for submissions but it's allowed Wilkensone to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

james looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkensone controlling the pace.
james is staying active underneath Wilkensone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
james trying to control but Wilkensone postures up.
james works his way to full guard. Good work.
james wants to hit a switch here but Wilkensone passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for james there!
Wilkensone controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
james bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

james decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Wilkensone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming james to the mat! james manages to get full guard.
james tries to strike from the bottom.
Wilkensone is stalling in the full 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilkensone pulls guard effortlessly.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells james's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
james with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wilkensone looking to control.
james really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wilkensone looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilkensone, not yet.
james won't allow Wilkensone to get back to his feet.

james stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wilkensone moves in looking to clinch but james pushes him off.
james scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wilkensone takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james throws a head kick that misses.
james stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilkensone. Wilkensone gets slowly back to his feet.
Wilkensone tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Wilkensone looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for james!
Wilkensone looking to finish james with some ground and pound. This is bad for james!
james wants to hold on but Wilkensone pushes him away.
james swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

james bucks up and throws Wilkensone to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Wilkensone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and james counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tony james has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamaal Wilkensone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
james throws the left hand but Wilkensone avoids the punch easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jamaal Wilkensone.
I've got Wilkensone 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamaal Wilkensone!