PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rip James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayden Bull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by What's the difference. Bull has chosen Mudvayne - Not Falling as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Bull

194 cm
28
266 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

203 cm
26
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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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 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rip James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hayden Bull!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bull shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bull looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Bull fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bull shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
Rip James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayden Bull.
Bull shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Bull. Bull gets slowly back to his feet.

James shoots in and bounces Bull off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
James won't allow Bull to sweep him here.
James passes into half guard.
James thows a huge punch but Bull dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control from half guard but Bull is working away.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bull avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James stalling away here and it's allowed Bull to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James throws a strike aimed at the side of Bull's head but Bull avoids it well.

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 wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bull, who protects the arm well.
Bull defending against the ground and pound.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bull knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bull is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, James asserts his dominance and retains side control.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bull keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is working Bull over with some ground and pound from side control.
James in side control, throwing shots but Bull defends.
James in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James in side control, throwing shots but Bull defends.

James tries for a kimura but Bull is defending well.
Bull regains half guard.
James is pressing down on Bull's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bull is holding on for now.
Bull is refusing to be controlled, as James sits in half guard.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bull blocks the body kick.
Bull fails with the takedown
and Bull takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Hayden Bull has been cut.
Bull has his takedown stuffed
and James makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James digs a good body shot into Bull's ribs.
James lands a nice hook to Bull's body. Bull takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hayden Bull is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bull looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bull takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James working the ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
James throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. Bull controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bull is avoiding damage well.
Bull regains half guard, as James was trying to land strikes.
James slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two 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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James with a poor takedown

and Bull counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
Bull postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.

James is looking for a triangle but Bull pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bull scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bull works over James with some ground and pound from guard.
Bull preventing the sweep.
Bull lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bull landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bull working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bull doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bull manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Bull lands a couple of digs.
Bull stopping the sweep attempt from James.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bull trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bull working some strikes from top position.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bull is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bull tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rip James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayden Bull.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bull throws a leg kick that misses.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bull taking some punishment here, with James in his half guard.

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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bull gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hayden Bull's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bull tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bull shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bull showed some decent athleticism there.
Bull working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
James is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bull's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bull's back!
Bull avoids the strikes from James.
James is trying to stick to Bull's back but Bull is turning into James. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in James's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bull.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bull trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Bull.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bull preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Bull is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James throwing strikes from guard but Bull blocks nicely.
James 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by Bull.
Bull takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hayden Bull seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bull with a lazy takedown attempt
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James connects with a nice looking jab.
Bull takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bull has his takedown stuffed

and James counters with a takedown into side control.
James throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bull avoids any damage from the ground and pound of James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bull avoids any damage from the ground and pound of James.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bull, who protects the arm well.
James in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rip James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James trying to control the position but Bull is working away.

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.
You can see the frustration on Bull's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bull fails with the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rip James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayden Bull.
James prevents Bull from standing back up.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bull for as long as he can get away with.
Hayden Bull has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rip James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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