PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Ruenos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pablo Ruenos 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!

James
vs
Ruenos

196 cm
21
270 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

163 cm
20
265 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Ruenos!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruenos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from James.
Ruenos with a lazy takedown attempt

and James decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ruenos's guard.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ruenos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.

Ruenos has gone for a leg lock! James slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ruenos's guard.
James controlling from the top position.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ruenos keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ruenos's head.
Ruenos is trying to keep James in close.
James wants to pass the guard but Ruenos is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Ruenos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ruenos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ruenos 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 Ruenos has James in his guard.
Ruenos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruenos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
James is working Ruenos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James wants to pass the guard but Ruenos is keeping the position.
Ruenos trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
Ruenos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws and elbow that misses. Ruenos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Ruenos!

Ruenos has gone for a leg lock! James slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ruenos's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruenos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Ruenos has wrist control.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ruenos tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ruenos's guard now.
Josh James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ruenos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James forces his way into half guard.
Ruenos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James with the ground and pound but Ruenos uses the opportunity to regain guard.
James throws and elbow that misses. Ruenos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Ruenos!

Ruenos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! James is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! James has escaped and now he's on top!
James wants to control from the top but Ruenos keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruenos controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ruenos controlling the position for now.
Ruenos trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James drops an elbow to the side of Ruenos's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Ruenos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
James winds up and cracks Ruenos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
James 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ruenos is not content to let James control the position.
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
James frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

James swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ruenos is now in James's guard. A big mistake from James there, giving up the dominant position!
Ruenos looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James pushes Ruenos off and gets back to his feet.

James is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ruenos's half guard.

James is looking for a kimura but Ruenos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for James to get the leverage.
James is controlling the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ruenos has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ruenos with a poor takedown

and James counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ruenos!

James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ruenos has worked his arm free - good work by Ruenos!

James is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ruenos has escaped the position, nice work there.
James is looking to take a break and control but Ruenos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ruenos can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to control for a moment but Ruenos uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Still in half guard, James seems content to control.
James thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ruenos to regain full guard.

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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruenos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ruenos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruenos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Josh James has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ruenos with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ruenos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James trying to control but Ruenos is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruenos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Ruenos has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruenos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Josh James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Ruenos.
Ruenos wants to get back to full guard.
Ruenos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ruenos reverses the position - he's now on top in James's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James 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.

Ruenos 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!
James wants to control but Ruenos is keeping him busy.
James throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ruenos works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

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