PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Noynoy Aquino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Justin James was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Aquino
vs
James

169 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Noynoy Aquino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin James!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aquino keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aquino wants to get back to his feet.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James trying to control the action but Aquino is working from the bottom.
James is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
James passes to full mount!
Aquino is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
James forces the positional change into back control.

James has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Aquino has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

James is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Aquino has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
James looks gassed!
Aquino has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

James is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Aquino knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Aquino for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aquino controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

James is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Aquino knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Aquino for a finish.

James has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

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.
Aquino is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
James struggling to land strikes to the head as Aquino covers up.

James is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Aquino knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Aquino for a finish.
James tries to get the hooks in deep but Aquino pushed the leg off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aquino has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin James dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aquino tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aquino looks to land a combination. James sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Aquino tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aquino moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Aquino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aquino wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aquino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James wants to pass the guard but Aquino is defending well.
Aquino knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Aquino wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is looking for a kimura but Aquino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for James to get the leverage.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Aquino is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. James connects with a nice short shot to Aquino's temple.
James stops Aquino from getting back to his feet.

James 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 stops Aquino from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aquino throws a combination. James tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Aquino takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Noynoy Aquino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aquino looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aquino throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
A punch combination from Aquino misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Aquino.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aquino throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Noynoy Aquino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aquino is looking to clinch.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aquino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aquino as he avoids it easily.
Noynoy Aquino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin James.
Aquino moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Aquino throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
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 Noynoy Aquino will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aquino lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
Aquino looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Aquino throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Aquino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aquino throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aquino swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

James feints and as Aquino raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Aquino is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
James wants to control from the top but Aquino keeps moving.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Aquino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aquino catches James with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Noynoy Aquino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Aquino misses.
A slow jab from Aquino misses its intended target.
Aquino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aquino waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
A punch combination from Aquino misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aquino but Aquino pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Noynoy Aquino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin James.
Aquino fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aquino misses with the combination.
Aquino looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aquino wants to get back to his feet.

James wants to work for an arm triangle but Aquino is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aquino blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
Aquino is not content to let James control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

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