PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Omega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Omega
vs
James

185 cm
23
205 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

194 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Omega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Omega is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Omega circles away and we're back to standing.
Omega looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Omega tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Omega misses with a body shot.
Omega shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Omega slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Omega misses with a series of wild punches.
James shoots in and drives through. Omega sprawls well.
Rich Omega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam James.
Omega tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Omega as James shoots in.
James shoots in for a takedown but Omega shows good takedown defense.

James rushes Omega and presses him up against the cage.
James can't break the clinch.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Omega after a bit of a struggle.
Omega misses with the head strike.

James has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Omega clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

James looking to break Omega's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Omega remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise James will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Omega fending off the submission attempt from James.
James has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Omega.

It looks like Rich Omega has been cut.
Even with his hooks in, James manages to miss with strikes from the back.

James is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Omega knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Omega for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Omega is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Omega defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of James's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

James working for the choke.
Omega covers up after that shot from James.
James is controlling the position but Omega somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

James stands up out of the half guard.

James closes the distance and pushes Omega back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Omega goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James looking to throw knees to the head but Omega is blocking nicely.

James is trying to trip Omega. He has hold of a leg but Omega is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. James persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rich Omega'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.

James drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Omega knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
James working the ground and pound but Omega is defending the strikes.
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.
James is looking to take a break and control but Omega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega being controlled for a moment.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Omega keeps working.
Omega managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by James.

That's two 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.
James is looking to take a break and control but Omega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Omega is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
James trying to control the action but Omega is working from the bottom.
James throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Omega works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is nestled in close to Omega, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
James content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

James is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Omega is just riding it out for now. James eventually gives up the hold.

James is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James trying to control from half guard but Omega is working away.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Omega defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rich Omega's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.

Omega is defending against the submission attempts here by James.
James keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Omega on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Omega tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Omega keeps working.
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James wants to free his trapped foot but Omega is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Still in half guard, James seems content to control.

Liam James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Omega to keep the fight standing.
Omega jumps guard but James turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Omega gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
James can't get the takedown.
Rich Omega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James can't get the takedown.

James wants the takedown. Omega is fighting it off but James persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Omega's guard against the cage.
James trying to control but Omega is working from the bottom.
James might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Omega kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James postures up in Omega's guard and throws a big left but Omega blocks it.
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!
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Omega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Liam James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
James wants to clinch.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James wants to break free but Omega has control.
Omega can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from James.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Omega pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
James tries to clinch but Omega is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Omega manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Omega tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Omega manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

James has managed to clinch.
A short left from Omega.
Omega softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rich Omega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James lands a left hand.
James is looking for a takedown.

James has hold of one of Omega's legs. Omega is fighting the takedown attempt but James gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James postures up in Omega's guard and throws a big left but Omega blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Liam James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Omega escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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