PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blake Radcliffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrei James told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Radcliffe
vs
James

180 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Radcliffe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrei James!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Radcliffe defends it nicely.
James takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Radcliffe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
James tries to kick Radcliffe off but Radcliffe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Radcliffe content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
James is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radcliffe wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Radcliffe stops James from getting back to his feet.
Radcliffe is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Radcliffe content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Blake Radcliffe.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from James - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James misses with a takedown

and Radcliffe counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!
Blake Radcliffe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei James.
Radcliffe controlling from the full mount.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James wants to try and get back to his feet.
James looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radcliffe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Radcliffe seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down James for as long as he can get away with.
James can't escape the position.

Radcliffe working for a guillotine from mount but James is in no mood to give up.

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 keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
James is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
James working to try and regain half guard.
Radcliffe controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Radcliffe dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James closes the distance looking to clinch

so Radcliffe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
James doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Radcliffe stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James is looking for a sweep.
Radcliffe passes to full mount! That's big trouble for James!
Radcliffe punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radcliffe prevents James from getting the reversal.
James is breathing heavily.
Radcliffe controlling the position easily from mount.
James is trying desperately to improve position.
James taking shots to the head.
James tries to hold on but Radcliffe postures up.

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.
Radcliffe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Radcliffe has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Radcliffe with good strikes from the mount here!
James is looking to improve his position but Radcliffe isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to hold on but Radcliffe postures up.
Radcliffe wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
Radcliffe controlling from mount.
James tries to lock up and control but Radcliffe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Radcliffe looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James wants to control but Radcliffe is having none of it.
James is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Radcliffe is staying active.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
James might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Radcliffe kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Radcliffe dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James takes a jab right on the kisser.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Radcliffe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Radcliffe swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Andrei James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James wants to clinch
enabling Radcliffe to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Radcliffe tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James counters with a shoot takedown. Radcliffe fights it but they end up in guard.
Radcliffe keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James stands and throws Radcliffe's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James trying to control the position but Radcliffe is working away.
Radcliffe managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by James.
James lands a decent elbow from side control.
James tries to stand but Radcliffe is controlling his head.
Radcliffe regains half guard.
Radcliffe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Radcliffe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radcliffe trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
Radcliffe looking for a sweep. Not yet Radcliffe, not yet.
James scoring with punches to the head and body.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Radcliffe looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Radcliffe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Radcliffe is keeping the position for now.
Radcliffe is pulling down on James's head to control his posture.
James preventing the sweep.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Blake Radcliffe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Radcliffe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Radcliffe.
James controls Radcliffe momentarily but Radcliffe frees himself.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Radcliffe from controlling successfully.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Radcliffe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Blake Radcliffe.
Well Radcliffe 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Radcliffe!