PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rip James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack McClusky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by The Ultimatum. The crowd seem to be enjoying McClusky's choice of entrance music: I Stand Alone. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

James
vs
McClusky

194 cm
30
266 lbs
35 - 24 - 0

195 cm
25
254 lbs
16 - 4 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Garra Suplementos (EnergyQ150 10$)

Milwaukee's Best 160 - $77

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rip James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jack McClusky!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McClusky throws an ugly left hook that misses

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McClusky keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McClusky's head.
James prevents McClusky from improving his position.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James is looking to take a break and control but McClusky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
James looking to ground and pound but McClusky is blocking nicely.
James thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
James trying to control but McClusky is having none of it.
James looking to ground and pound but McClusky is blocking nicely.

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 controlling from the full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by James there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
McClusky avoids a series of strikes thrown by James.
McClusky really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James is stalling here but it's allowed McClusky to get half guard.
McClusky holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
James works his way into side control.
James happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McClusky parries the strikes from James easily there. James is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McClusky to escape.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. McClusky controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McClusky can do anything to dispel that myth.
James throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McClusky tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James working the ground and pound but McClusky is defending the strikes.

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 trying to control the action but McClusky is working from the bottom.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
James wants to control but McClusky is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McClusky is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
James throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McClusky works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
James keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A slow jab from McClusky misses its intended target.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McClusky.
McClusky misses with a right hand
letting James counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James scores with a takedown into McClusky's guard.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McClusky keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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.
James misses with a head shot. McClusky uses the momentum to regain guard.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to pass the guard but McClusky is keeping the position.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James trying to control but McClusky is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James advances to half guard.
James is trying to control. McClusky wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
James is looking to advance position but McClusky won't allow it.
James trying to control the pace.
James works his way into side control.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McClusky knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from James crashes against the mat.
James trying to control the position but McClusky is working away.
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McClusky is avoiding damage well.

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McClusky is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that second round.
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!

McClusky misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from McClusky misses.
McClusky misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McClusky takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McClusky misses with a left hand
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McClusky as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
McClusky misses with a left hand
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McClusky misses with a double jab
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McClusky lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by McClusky which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from McClusky does it's job there.
Rip James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James checks the leg kick nicely there.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by McClusky.
McClusky fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McClusky loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
Jack McClusky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McClusky throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack McClusky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

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