PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Serious Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black comes to the cage accompanied by Megadeth Public Enemy No.1. Keith James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Black
vs
James

196 cm
25
267 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
28
265 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Serious Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oooooh!!! James has knocked Black down with a huge combo! James steps away and waves a wobbly Black back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Serious Black has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Black circles away.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Black fails with the takedown.

James instigates a clinch.
James lands a left hand that snaps the head of Black backwards.

Black is rocked!
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Oh Black is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Black tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serious Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James jumps into guard, dragging Black to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Black trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James wants to stand and escape but Black is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Black preventing the sweep.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Black doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Black manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black seems to have got his legs back now.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black is pushing down on James's leg trying to pass to half guard. James is fighting to maintain full guard but Black has managed to sneak the leg through.
James tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Black connects with a nice short shot to James's temple.
Black could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Black has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
James is trying desperately to improve position.
James tries to hold on but Black pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Black avoids the attempt from James to control.
James is squirming around, avoiding Black's attempts to control the action.
Black connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
James wants to hold on but Black pushes him away.
James tries to reverse the position but Black maintains control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James wants to get back to his feet.
Black wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
Black lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?
Black unloading with bombs!
Black lands a heavy elbow.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
Black with a couple of short strikes.
James is looking to improve his position but Black isn't that keen on the idea.
James is in a horrible position here. Black smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Black. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Black wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
James is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Black dominating with strikes here.
Black lands a nice shot to the head.
Black breaks from James's wrist control and lands an elbow.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James tries to hold on but Black pushes him away.
Black lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keith James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Serious Black's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Black drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Black just stands there and leans against the cage.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from James.

James pulls guard.
Black won't allow James to sweep him here.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Black is fighting to break James's control of his arms but James is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Black postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Black is proving a slippery customer.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Black showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
James wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Black lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James wants to stand and escape but Black is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.
James wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.

James has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Serious Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Black stands up from James's guard - Black perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Serious Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith James.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.
Serious Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James is breathing heavily.
James looks to land a combination but Black avoids it well.
Black shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Black is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Black circles away and we're back to standing.
Black tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Black somewhat.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Black shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Black stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
James misses with a body kick.
A head kick from Black lands but James takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Black as he jumps to the side.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serious Black dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Serious Black's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Black fails with a takedown attempt.
James tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Black has his takedown stuffed
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James throws a head kick that misses.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Black sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by James.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serious Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

James drives through and clinches with Black against the cage.
James tries to pull guard but Black forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Black fails to pull guard.
Black tries to score a body lock takedown but James shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Black drops down looking for an ankle pick but James pulls his leg out and moves away.

James clinches up against the cage.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Black fails to pull guard.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Black is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Black. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

James manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.

James is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James tries to strike from the bottom.
James wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
James throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Keith James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Black closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Black closes the distance but James moves to the side
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James tries a low kick but Black avoids it.
Black stuffs the takedown.
Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

James gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James is working Black over against the cage.
James can't get the takedown.
James cracks Black with a nice body shot.

James jumps into guard, dragging Black to the mat.
James has his hands on Black's head, controlling the position.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Keith James!