PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Croft
vs
James

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
19
178 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Croft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick James!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croft shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Croft looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Croft swinging wildly here.
Croft with a poor takedown
letting James counter with a right hand.
Croft tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and James counters with a lovely shot to the body.

James gets a clinch.

James has clasped his hands together around Croft's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
James slows the pace down.
James tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Croft on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Croft tries to get out of the position.
Croft being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to move into full mount but can't pass Croft's legs.
James misses with the ground and pound.
Croft is not content to let James control the position.
James is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
James throws a strike aimed at the side of Croft's head but Croft avoids it well.
James is looking to take a break and control but Croft is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James just content to control the position.
James throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
James trying to control the action but Croft is working from the bottom.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Croft sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ground and pound from James seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
James throws a strike aimed at the side of Croft's head but Croft avoids it well.
James cracks Croft with an elbow. That is naaassty.
James staying calm.
James postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
James trying to control the position but Croft is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Croft is avoiding damage well.
James wants to control but Croft is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Croft parries the strikes from James easily there. James is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Croft to escape.
The strikes coming from James are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James wants to clinch.
James lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Croft tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Croft takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Croft tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Croft is defended easily by James.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Croft circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James scores with a one two! Croft had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Croft on the wrong end of a nice hook.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Croft will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James digs a good hook to Croft's body.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Croft.
James cracks Croft with an open hand slap.
Tom Croft is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James throws a head kick that Croft semi-blocks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James scores with a decent looking hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by James!

Croft is rocked!

James clinches with his opponent.
Oh Croft is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James throws a shot to the body.
and James counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Croft! He's just covering up as James starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick James!
An out of breath Nick James thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.