PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wuji Tianya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh James will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tianya
vs
James

175 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
20
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wuji Tianya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh James!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tianya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tianya looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Tianya is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Tianya closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.

Tianya feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Tianya changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tianya postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
Tianya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Tianya looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James landing some decent shots from guard.

It looks like Wuji Tianya has been cut.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tianya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James controls from within his opponent's guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James postures up in Tianya's guard and throws a big left but Tianya blocks it.
James won't allow Tianya to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Tianya has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Tianya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tianya wants to sweep but no luck.
James wants to control from the top but Tianya keeps moving.
Tianya tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to control from the top but Tianya keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tianya looks to land a combination. James sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tianya counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tianya is breathing heavily.
Tianya fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tianya gets caught flat footed, as James shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tianya keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tianya keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Tianya being controlled here, momentarily.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tianya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tianya tries to get out of the position.
James won't allow Tianya to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wuji Tianya's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tianya throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tianya is in James's guard.
Tianya could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tianya drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tianya has James in his guard.
Tianya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tianya wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and James manages to pass to side control.
James with the ground and pound but Tianya uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James is stalling in the full guard.

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

That's two 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.
James trying to control but Tianya is working from the bottom.
James connects with a couple of short punches.
James throws a strike but Tianya rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Tianyais looking to pass into half guard but James pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now James is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Tianya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James throwing strikes but missing.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four 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 postures up.
Tianya working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tianya is not content to let James control the position.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James winds up and cracks Tianya with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wuji Tianya's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tianya darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Wuji Tianya's cut is getting worse.
Tianya is looking to stall here but James recovers full guard.
Tianya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tianya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tianya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tianya trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tianyais looking to pass into half guard but James pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now James is in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James is putting a hurting on Tianya here, landing some big shots from side control.

Wuji Tianya's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Wuji Tianya's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Josh James!