PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brett James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jess Liaudin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

James
vs
Liaudin

175 cm
21
147 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jess Liaudin!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James leaves Liaudin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Liaudin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James lands with an overhand left.
Liaudin shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brett James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jess Liaudin.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Liaudin.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Liaudin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liaudin defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liaudin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James controlling the action here.
Liaudin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Liaudin on the ground.

Liaudin looking for a kimura from the bottom but James passes into side control!
James working away.
Liaudin gets back to half guard.

Liaudin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Liaudin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liaudin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Liaudin trying to control the position.

Liaudin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
Liaudin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
Liaudin throws a big right hand that misses.
James is looking to stand up but Liaudin isn't so interested in that idea.
Liaudin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liaudin is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
James trying to control the position.
Liaudin trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James is trying to keep Liaudin in close.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Liaudin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Liaudin drops back, looking for a kneebar! James looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. James looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from James!
Liaudin tries to bench press James off him but James keeps the position.
Liaudin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Liaudin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Liaudin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liaudin gets full guard.

James stands up and waves to Liaudin to follow him.
James throws a right hand that misses

and Liaudin counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
James is working to avoid the ground and pound but Liaudin connects with a decent elbow.

Liaudin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
James tries to improve position but can't.
Liaudin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James wants to control but Liaudin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jess Liaudin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Liaudin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James misses with a lunging right hand

so Liaudin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Liaudin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Liaudin wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Liaudin pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jess Liaudin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liaudin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Liaudin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James wants to control but Liaudin passes into side.
James seems a little lost for a moment, as Liaudin dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to buck Liaudin off but Liaudin is having none of it.
James regains half guard, as Liaudin was trying to land strikes.

Liaudin seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.

Liaudin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. James doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Liaudin.
Liaudin looks to land a strike but James avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Liaudin trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Liaudin wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Liaudin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
James trying to control here.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Liaudin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Liaudin trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Liaudin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Liaudin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liaudin thows a huge punch but James dodges it nicely.
Liaudin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James tries to kick Liaudin off but Liaudin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Liaudin looks to land a strike but James avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Liaudin advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Liaudin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Liaudin slows the pace down in half guard.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Liaudin.
Liaudin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Liaudin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but James sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Liaudin wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
Liaudin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Liaudin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.
Liaudin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Liaudin passes to side control.
Liaudin looks up at the clock and then as James takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Liaudin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Liaudin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, James has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Liaudin but great work by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jess Liaudin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Liaudin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!
Liaudin throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Liaudin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The referee warns James that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Liaudin is landing with some decent strikes but James is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Liaudin wants to control but James has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Liaudin 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.
Liaudin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liaudin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Liaudin tries to pass to full mount but James defends it.
Liaudin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James tries to kick Liaudin off but Liaudin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Liaudin sits in half guard.
James regains full guard. Nicely done.
Liaudin throws and elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Liaudin's guard. Nice move by James!

Liaudin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Liaudin has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
Liaudin is trying to keep James in close.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
James trying to control but Liaudin is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Liaudin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liaudin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
James wants to stand but Liaudin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Liaudin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Liaudin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Liaudin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James keeping moving, preventing Liaudin from controlling successfully.

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.
Liaudin is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
James is looking to stand up but Liaudin isn't so interested in that idea.
Liaudin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Liaudin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Liaudin.
Liaudin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Brett James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liaudin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jess Liaudin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Liaudin 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jess Liaudin!