PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Statham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Statham has chosen Bullet For My Valentine - Hand of Blood as his entrance music. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Justin James looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

James
vs
Statham

190 cm
19
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Statham!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Statham tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
James looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James swinging wilding here.
James could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Statham feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James wants to sweep here but Statham controlling him for the moment.
James working a defensive guard here.
Statham pushing down on James's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Statham is taking a breather. James 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 is in trouble now - Statham has advanced to mount!
Statham controlling the pace for now.
James's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham controlling his opponent.
James is working to get back to half guard.

Statham is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but James is surviving well by controlling Statham's body position as best he can.
James throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
James wants to hold on but Statham pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James is working to get back to half guard.
Statham controlling the pace for now.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Statham controlling from the full mount.
James tries to hold on but Statham postures up.
Statham controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham raining down shots from the mount!
Statham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James is working to get back to half guard.
James is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Statham controlling the pace for now.
You get the feeling that James really doesn't like being in this position too much.

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.

Statham working for a submission but James is keeping him at bay.
Statham scores with a couple of good head shots there.
James is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Statham controlling the position easily from mount.
James is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James wants to hold on but Statham pushes him away.
Statham trying to control but he's not successful this time.
James holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Statham tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Statham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Statham's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Statham.
James shoots and misses

and Statham counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in James's guard now.

Statham stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.

Statham closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
James wants to control but Statham postures up.
James is looking for a sweep.
James is letting Statham control him for a moment.
Statham lands some shots froms side control.
James tries to bench press Statham off him but Statham keeps the position.
James is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A lazy left from Statham finds it's target.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Statham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Statham.
Statham misses with a takedown
and James counters with a head kick. That will keep Statham thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Statham but Statham pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Statham.
James tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Statham has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, James has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Statham has his opponent's back but James is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Statham.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Statham looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Statham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Statham is controlling him.

Statham gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Statham had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. James is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Statham Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take James's back instead.
Statham throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Statham scores with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Statham is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Statham struggling to keep hold of the position.
Statham doesn't have the hooks in and James manages to turn into his guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Statham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Statham seems keen to control James's posture.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Statham is retaining full guard.
James wants to get up but he can't break Statham's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James feints and then cracks Statham's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Statham down.
Justin James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James fails to land with a series of punches.

Statham decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
James tries to kick Statham off but Statham keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
James pushes Statham off looking to stand but Statham dives back in and keeps control.
Statham is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Statham wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Statham might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control James kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Statham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Justin Statham's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

James tries to clinch but Statham moves away
and Statham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Statham throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Statham circles away.
Statham throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
A right-left combo lands from James.
James shoots in for a double leg but Statham sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Statham scores a takedown into full mount!
Statham avoids the attempt from James to control.
Statham controlling the position easily from mount.
Statham lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Statham controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Statham working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing hammer fists to the chest of Statham. What's that going to do exactly?
James is working to get back to half guard.
Statham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James wants to control but Statham is having none of it.
James regains half guard.

James pushes Statham off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Statham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

James moves into the clinch.
James has had enough of the clinch but Statham keeps him there for the moment.

Statham manages to break the clinch.
James falls off balance throwing a combination

and Statham counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Statham.

Statham breaks from the clinch.
James looks to clinch

so Statham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

James scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Statham closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Statham is looking for a kimura here.
James is looking to escape.
Statham passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to improve his position but Statham isn't that keen on the idea.
Statham controlling the position easily from mount.

Statham jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… James is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by James and Statham has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Statham lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear James down.
Statham trying to control the position but James is working away.
James is being controlled here.
James tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Statham has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
James throws a left and a right that both miss

and Statham counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James is trying to keep Statham in close.
James wants to stand up but Statham is controlling him.
Statham stopping the sweep attempt from James.

Statham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Statham tries a head kick but it misses.

Statham looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Justin Statham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Statham is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for James!

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Statham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Statham 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Statham!