PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brad Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Sullivan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sullivan
vs
James

175 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
235 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daniel James!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James is looking to clinch.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Sullivan sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sullivan's waist but Sullivan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Sullivan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sullivan scores with a three punch combo!

James tries to keep at a distance but Sullivan has taken the fight into the clinch.
James gets underhooks to prevent Sullivan's takedown attempt.
James is working for takedown but Sullivan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brad Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel James.
Sullivan tries a body shot but James blocks it.
Sullivan could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

James decides to pull guard.

Sullivan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James has his hands on Sullivan's head, controlling the position.
Sullivan controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan with a flurry of punches that miss.
James is trying to keep Sullivan in close.
James keeping moving, preventing Sullivan from controlling successfully.
Sullivan postures up.
Sullivan looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James is looking to clinch but Sullivan is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sullivan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
James looks gassed!
Sullivan being controlled here, momentarily.
Sullivan pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sullivan is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sullivan stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sullivan trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
Sullivan throwing strikes but missing.
Sullivan postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
Sullivan is pushing down on James's leg trying to pass to half guard. James is fighting to maintain full guard but Sullivan has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James is looking to control Sullivan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can James avoid being mounted?
Sullivan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but James does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sullivan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because James is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
James is looking for a sweep. Sullivan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sullivan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sullivan showed some decent athleticism there.
James has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sullivan is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Sullivan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
James postures up.
James showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sullivan keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Sullivan is trying to control the position but James postures up.

Sullivan looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
James landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Sullivan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sullivan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sullivan can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James wants to take a breather but Sullivan is having none of it.
Sullivan trying to control from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James fails with the takedown

and Sullivan counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
James working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Sullivan from controlling successfully.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sullivan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James trying to strike off his back.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sullivan is one step ahead there.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sullivan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James landing shots from mount.
James lands with some strikes.
James wants to take Sullivan's back here but Sullivan is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

James stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sullivan tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sullivan at a distance.

James gets a takedown into half guard.
James tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
James is looking to advance position but Sullivan won't allow it.
James looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sullivan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
James content to control rather than advance.
James wants to control but Sullivan is keeping him busy.
James takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Daniel James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James wants to pass the guard but Sullivan is defending well.
James is looking to take a break and control but Sullivan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Daniel James just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sullivan fails to land the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sullivan trying to stall but James improves his position.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Sullivan circles away.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Sullivan counter with a right hand.
Sullivan tries to land a front kick but James steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sullivan counters by moving into the clinch.

James gets a trip takedown into half guard.
James is looking to stall here but Sullivan recovers full guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Sullivan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that James has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sullivan has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

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