PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Luongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Luongo's choice of entrance music: Alexisonfire - The Northern. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

James
vs
Luongo

186 cm
27
172 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
171 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Luongo!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luongo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in James's guard.
Luongo looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Luongo.
Luongo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
James is looking to get back to full guard here but Luongo has managed to pass to side control instead.

Luongo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
James sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luongo is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
James wants to get back to full guard.
Luongo trying to pass the guard but James defending well.
Luongo controlling the pace.
James tries to roll over but Luongo keeps him under control.
Luongo is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luongo prevents James from improving his position.
Luongo trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Luongo is working away from the top position though.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Luongo sits in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Francesco Luongo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Luongo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Luongo checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luongo looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Ron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James takes a swing at Luongo's ribcage but misses.

Luongo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Luongo trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Luongo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
James is trying to maintain the position but Luongo is very close to passing his half guard.
James is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Luongo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
James wants to control but Luongo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
James gets back to full guard.
Luongo passes James's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luongo wants to pass to mount but James is defending the position.
James is looking for a sweep. Luongo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James misses with a looping left.
James throws a push kick but Luongo slaps the foot to one side.
James is looking to clinch.
Luongo defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luongo.
James throws a leg kick but Luongo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
James misses with an uppercut.
A big left from James misses.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Luongo.
James tries to bench press Luongo off him but Luongo keeps the position.

Luongo tries for a kimura but James is defending well.

Luongo tries for a kimura but James is defending well.
Luongo prevents James from escaping the position.

Luongo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luongo is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Luongo trying to control the position but James is working away.

Luongo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by James, who protects the arm well.

Luongo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luongo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Luongo wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
Luongo prevents James from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luongo tries to move into full mount but can't pass James's legs.

Luongo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
James tries to escape but Luongo is in control.

Luongo tries for a kimura but James is defending well.
James is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Luongo is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Luongo 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!

Luongo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James wants to land a leg kick but Luongo is out of range.
James looking to land some kicks to the body here.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Luongo pinned against the cage. Luongo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luongo missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luongo looking to score a takedown here. James is defending well but Luongo drives through and ends up in James's guard.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James working a defensive guard here.
James wants to stand and escape but Luongo is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
James keeping moving, preventing Luongo from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Luongo shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Luongo.
Ron James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Luongo does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the body from James misses

and Luongo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Luongo advances to half guard.
Luongo trying to pass the guard but James defending well.
Luongo is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.

Luongo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo slows the pace down in half guard.
Luongo wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.

Luongo is looking for a kimura here.
James trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luongo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
James is staying active underneath Luongo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Francesco Luongo.

James rushes Luongo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Luongo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Luongo 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Luongo!