PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Gaines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geraldo James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geraldo James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gaines
vs
James

178 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
214 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trevor Gaines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Geraldo James!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gaines's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gaines utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gaines scrambles and gets back to his feet.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gaines napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gaines on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gaines tries to get out of the position.
The ground and pound from James seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaines keeps working.

James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James trying to control the position but Gaines is working away.
Gaines trying to remain calm as James controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gaines gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gaines might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gaines wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gaines avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Geraldo James was stalling too much, according to the referee.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gaines throws out the jab.

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaines wants to stand up but James is controlling him.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Geraldo James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaines scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before James has time to react.
Gaines jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gaines jabs at James's body.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaines stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Geraldo James has been cut.
Trevor Gaines is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaines jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
James looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gaines sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
James prevents Gaines from standing back up.
Gaines blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James is taking a breather. Gaines says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
James misses with a head shot. Gaines uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Gaines gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gaines has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James pulls Gaines in close to prevent any damage.
James wants to stand but Gaines is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geraldo James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Geraldo James's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Left hook, right uppercut from Gaines.

Gaines gets caught flat footed, as James shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gaines being controlled here, momentarily.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaines is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Gaines pushes James off and scrambles back to his feet.

James closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gaines quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Geraldo James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gaines is trying to stand up here but James is controlling him well.
James is trying to control. Gaines wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gaines is in trouble now - James has advanced to mount!
James breaks from Gaines's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaines is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James throws some wild stikes that Gaines manages to avoid easily.
James controlling from mount.
Gaines wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Gaines is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
James misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaines is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Gaines taking shots to the head.
James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee warns Gaines that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Gaines is rocked!
James looking to ground and pound but Gaines is blocking nicely.
Oh Gaines is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
James looking to ground and pound but Gaines is blocking nicely.
James content just to control the position here.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James misses with a head shot.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gaines seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thowing shots but they're missing.
James misses with a head shot.
James controlling his opponent.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James wants to control the pace but Gaines is squirming around nicely.
James throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
James punching from mount but Gaines doing a good job of avoiding damage.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Gaines bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James thowing shots but they're missing.
James looking to finish with strikes here!
Gaines manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Gaines, under a barage of strikes from James.
James is keen to just control but Gaines is a slippery customer.
Gaines keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
James trying to control from half guard but Gaines is working away.
Gaines knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

James is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gaines doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time James.
Gaines is in trouble now - James has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geraldo James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Geraldo James's cut.
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 scores a takedown into full mount!
James throws some wild stikes that Gaines manages to avoid easily.
James misses with a head shot.
James punching from mount but Gaines doing a good job of avoiding damage.

James working for a submission but Gaines is keeping him at bay.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
James tries to control but Gaines wriggling away.
James with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Gaines bucks and avoids them well.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Gaines bucks and avoids them well.
James misses with a head shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaines is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Gaines really wants to buck James off and get back to his feet.
James trying to control but Gaines is having none of it.
James unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Gaines wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! James celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Geraldo James!