PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Bertholf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam James has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Arthur Bertholf's chin.

Bertholf
vs
James

225 cm
25
240 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

194 cm
25
205 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Bertholf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam James!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bertholf pinned against the cage. Bertholf gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James wants to clinch.

James has managed to clinch.
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Bertholf backwards.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Bertholf pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Bertholf.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bertholf is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Bertholf circles away and we're back to standing.
Arthur Bertholf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam James.
James tries to clinch but Bertholf moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertholf stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bertholf wants it to stay on the feet.
Bertholf misses the shot to the body.
Bertholf just misses with a punch to the body.
James misses with a takedown attempt
and Bertholf counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bertholf lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

James takes the fight into the clinch.

James pulls guard effortlessly.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
James controlling the position.
Bertholf postures up.
Bertholf wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bertholf stands up and waves to James to follow him.
Arthur Bertholf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bertholf throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Bertholf tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bertholf manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
James wants to take a breather but Bertholf is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James seems to be looking for submissions.

James is trying to work for a kimura but Bertholf is defending well.
Bertholf keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bertholf is breathing heavily.
James is figuring out what he wants to do next.

James stands up and beckons Bertholf to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James dives in and grabs Bertholf's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bertholf pushes down on James's head and hops out.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bertholf tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bertholf to the ground. Bertholf escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bertholf looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
Bertholf goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

James closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bertholf quickly recovers to half guard.
Bertholf knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Bertholf is not content to let James control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

James shoots in looking for a takedown but Bertholf manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bertholf lands a jab to James's midsection.
Bertholf misses with a hook. James ducked under it nicely.
James shoots in for a takedown but Bertholf shows good takedown defense.
Bertholf is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Bertholf manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Arthur Bertholf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam James.
James moves away from the strike by Bertholf.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Bertholf tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bertholf manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bertholf throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bertholf really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James fails to land the takedown.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Bertholf, looking for a takedown. James pushes Bertholf against the cage but Bertholf circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James is breathing heavily.
James looks for a takedown but Bertholf sprawls well.
Bertholf scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
James takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bertholf looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
Bertholf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bertholf with a hook.

James rushes Bertholf and presses him up against the cage.

James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bertholf uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bertholf gets to his feet. James looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
James fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Bertholf misses with a hook.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bertholf circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bertholf circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bertholf gets caught napping as James dives in and scores a takedown. Bertholf manages to retain guard.
Liam James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bertholf can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertholf avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James working some strikes from top position.
Bertholf keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Liam James.
James tries for a takedown but Bertholf sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bertholf throws a jab but it's blocked by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Bertholf as James shoots in.
Bertholf is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
James fails to land the takedown.

James drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bertholf sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
James working the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertholf taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bertholf keeps working.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by James.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bertholf knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The strikes coming from James are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bertholf, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
James sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bertholf is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
James throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bertholf avoids any damage from the ground and pound of James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to control but Bertholf is keeping him busy.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
James trying to control the position but Bertholf is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arthur Bertholf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
James content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Liam James hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bertholf stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Bertholf clobbers James with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Arthur Bertholf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam James.

Bertholf gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
Bertholf is trying to break the clinch but James has him pressed against the cage.
Bertholf is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bertholf down to the mat. Bertholf avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bertholf manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

James rushes Bertholf and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bertholf stops a takedown attempt from James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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