PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Filipe Belo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calico James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Belo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Apaga mais não bate. Filipe Belo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belo
vs
James

188 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
218 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Fight King Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Filipe Belo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Calico James!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belo.
Belo throws a solid leg kick but James takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Belo.
Nice sprawl there from James as Belo shoots in.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Filipe Belo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from James as Belo shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belo fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Belo defends the submission attempt.
James slips a nice elbow through Belo's hands, connecting with Belo's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belo defending well though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Belo wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belo's head.
James slips a nice elbow through Belo's hands, connecting with Belo's forehead.
James looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Belo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
James prevents Belo from improving his position.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
James prevents Belo from improving his position.
James should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Belo trying to control here.
Belo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belo won't allow James to pass to mount.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - James has eaten all the pies!

James seems to be looking for submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Belo gets the takedown into side control.

Belo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Belo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
James wants to improve his position but Belo is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is not content to let Belo control the position.
James is looking to improve his position.
James works his way to full guard. Good work.

James is looking for a triangle here but Belo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belo wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calico James dominated that round.
That's time! Belo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belo fails with the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belo won't be happy with that.
James works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Belo is trying to improve his position.
Belo wants to control but James postures up.
James working the ground and pound.
James looks up at the clock and then as Belo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, James smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
James working the ground and pound from side control.
Belo struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
James lands a nice forearm strike.
James scores with a couple of short elbows.
Belo wants to control but James postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
James is chipping away with strikes.
James working the head with strikes.

James swings around for an armbar but Belo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into James's guard.
Belo wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Belo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Belo wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Belo won't allow James to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James working for a triangle but Belo defends it easily.

James is looking for a triangle but Belo pushes his legs off easily.
Belo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Belo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
James is looking to reverse the position.
Belo trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
James sneaks back into half guard.
Belo is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James wants to improve his position but Belo is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Belo prevents James from improving his position.
James is not content to let Belo control the position.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belo misses with a takedown attempt

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James stands and throws Belo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James lands a few punches from side control.
Belo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Belo prevents James from improving his position.
Calico James has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Belo trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
Belo wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
Belo wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
James punching from the bottom.
James wants to get back to full guard.
James is staying active underneath Belo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Belo with a poor takedown

and James counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Filipe Belo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Belo manages to get to full guard.
James throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calico 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!

James avoids the head kick by Belo.
Belo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Belo didn't expect that.

James drops back, looking for a kneebar! Belo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Belo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Belo!
James gets back to half guard.
James tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Belo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
James sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
Belo wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James regains full guard. Nicely done.
Belo trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
James is looking to reverse the position.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Belo's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James works his way to full guard. Good work.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Belo has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing James to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Belo is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - James pulls down on the head and he's put Belo to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Calico James!