PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paula Abdul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abdul
vs
James

177 cm
30
183 lbs
17 - 16 - 1

176 cm
26
184 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Paula Abdul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James takes a swing at Abdul's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot by James.
James scores with a head kick. Abdul tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Abdul avoids the body shot from James.
A solid leg kick lands there for James.
James misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abdul thows a body shot but no joy.
Abdul circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abdul misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Abdul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from James.
Abdul rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
James throws a shot from downtown. Abdul moves away and avoids it.
Abdul with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by James.
Abdul throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James avoids the body shot from Abdul.
Abdul lands a nice shot that snaps James's head back.
Abdul takes one on the chin but seems OK.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abdul is looking to wear down James with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
James lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
James slips a jab from Abdul.
James misses with a wild body shot.
Abdul lands with a straight right. James didn't see that one coming.
Jab by James.
A big right from James misses.
Abdul misses with a few strikes there.
Abdul takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abdul swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for James.
James throws a head kick that misses.

James darts in and clinches Abdul up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Abdul blocks a body shot from James.
Abdul taking a breather.
A short uppercut from Abdul.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as James takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Abdul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdul trying to stall but James improves his position.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Abdul lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Abdul's elbow.
James is stalling here.
Abdul blocks an uppercut.
James scores with an uppercut up the middle.
James slows down the pace here.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Abdul.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Abdul.
Abdul is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Abdul into the cage.
Abdul is trying to break the clinch but James is controlling him.
Abdul has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
James misses with a punch to the body.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by James.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Abdul is trying to break the clinch but James is controlling him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Abdul.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James misses with a leg kick
and Abdul counters with a right hand to the body.
Abdul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abdul at a distance.
Abdul swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James lands a glancing blow to the side of Abdul's head.
James wants to slow Abdul down by chopping away at his legs.
Abdul takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Abdul lands an impressive looking overhand right. James doesn't seem phased though.
Jesse James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Abdul lands a slapping body shot.
Abdul sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Abdul takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Abdul throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abdul takes one to the side of the head.
James misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James looks to land a right hand but Abdul moved out of range.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jesse James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdul scores with a jab to the jaw.
James is looking to clinch.
Abdul defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
James throws a shot to the body.
James throws a hook but Abdul avoids it easily.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Abdul.
Abdul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abdul paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdul takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Paula Abdul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James throws a hook to the side of Abdul's head but Abdul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdul looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
James throws a head kick that half lands.
Good leg kick by James there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James takes one to the side of the head.
James throws a lazy right hand but Abdul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abdul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Abdul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Abdul misses with a two punch combination.
James throws a lazy right hand but Abdul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abdul scores with a body shot.
James throws a hook but Abdul blocks it.
Abdul swings for the body but James moves out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Abdul blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a jab when Abdul was well out of range.
Abdul throws a combination that misses
and James counters with a good low kick that Abdul was not able to check.
Abdul lands a glancing blow to the side of James's head.
Abdul lands a slapping body shot.
Abdul checks the leg kick nicely there.
James misses with a wild body shot.
Abdul needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
Abdul scores with a jab to the body.
Abdul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James misses with a hook.
Abdul fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James works Abdul's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abdul moves out of range of the strikes.
James tries to clinch up.
James throws a head kick but Abdul moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abdul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James scores with the left hand. Abdul knows he should have avoided that one.
James misses the shot to the body.
Abdul feints a jab promting James to slip. Abdul then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. James slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. James does a little dance to reset his feet.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Abdul blocks a head kick by James.
Abdul avoids a kick to the body.
James tries to clinch up.
James changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
James swings away with a leg kick that misses.
James misses with an uppercut.
James rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Abdul counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Abdul defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot by Abdul.
Nice shot by James.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Abdul ducks under a wild hook from James.
James misses with an uppercut
and Abdul counters with a left to the body.
James jabs Abdul right on the nose. Abdul blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James looks to throw the jab but Abdul is out of range.
Abdul lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Abdul connects with a looping right hand.
James takes a jab right on the kisser.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good leg kick by James there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
James feints and then cracks Abdul's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Abdul down.
Nice defenses there by James.
Abdul slips under a jab.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdul jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
James throws a right hand that Abdul ducks under and follows up with a left that Abdul also avoids with ease.
Abdul connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abdul lunges at James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by James's hand.
Abdul needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
Abdul has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abdul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Abdul counter with a right hand.
Abdul needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
James throws a leg kick that is checked
and Abdul counters with a right hand to the body.
Abdul lands a jab to James's midsection.
Paula Abdul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdul connects with a jab.
James lands a nice looking body kick.
Abdul throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
James lands with a hook. Abdul tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
James works the jab nicely.
James connects with a right hand. Abdul shakes it off.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abdul manages to avoid it.
James connects with a crisp jab.
James delivers a nice body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James connects with a looping right hand.
James throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big right from Abdul misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James lands a high kick!
James misses with a looping right.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abdul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abdul throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James missing with a left hand there. Abdul was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Abdul is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Abdul misses with a body shot.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James ducks under a wild hook from Abdul.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
Abdul looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
James misses with a left hand
and Abdul counters with a straight right hand.
James throws a nice outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse James!
Jesse James thanked the fans post fight for their support.