PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Segel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Segel
vs
James

177 cm
23
154 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Demonic Drugs
Demonic Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Segel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank James!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Segel misses with a few strikes there.
A decent looking cross lands there for James.
Segel throws a series of strikes that have James backpedaling.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Segel.
James misses with a straight right.

Segel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
James trying to hold on to Segel's head to control him but Segel postures up.
James gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Segel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Segel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Segel preventing the sweep.

James had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Segel is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. James Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Segel's back instead.
Segel tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.

James looking for a guillotine from mount but Segel is having none of it.
Segel is in all sorts of trouble here.

James is working for a guillotine from mount but Segel frees his head quite easily.
James looks gassed!
Segel is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Segel is looking to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
James wants to take Segel's back but he can't do it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Segel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Segel wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Segel is proving a slippery customer.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Segel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Segel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Segel stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Segel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
James prevents Segel from improving position.

Segel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
James is looking for a sweep.
James is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Segel off and has taken his back!

Segel is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Segel manages to reverse the position and now he's in James's guard. Nice work there by Segel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Segel is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. James Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Segel's back instead.
Segel rolls, trying to escape but James keeps control of the position.
James keeps control of the position easily here as Segel tries to buck him off.

Segel is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if James gets his way!

James looking for the choke from the back.
Segel turns into James and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason Segel will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Segel plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

James is rocked!

It looks like Frank James has been cut.

James drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James tries to move to full mount but Segel actually manages to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Segel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Segel.
James wants to control from the top but Segel keeps moving.

Segel is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.

James drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Segel dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Segel trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to keep Segel in close.
Segel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Segel's guard.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Segel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Segel working for a triangle but James defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Segel keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Segel thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Segel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James wants to control from the top but Segel keeps moving.
James preventing the sweep.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Segel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
James wants to improve his position but Segel is controlling well.
Jason Segel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Segel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and James defends it well.
Segel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Segel seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.

James looking for submissions off his back.
Segel passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Segel.
James sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

James actively working from the bottom here.
Segel is tying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Segel prevents James from improving his position.
James gets back to full guard.
Segel stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Segel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Segel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank James's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Segel shoots in but no luck this time.
Segel has a takedown stuffed.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

James drops back, looking for a kneebar! Segel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Segel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Segel!
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
James is trying to get back to half guard.

Segel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Segel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
James manages to get back to half guard.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Segel seems content to control.
Segel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

James defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Segel.
Segel working the ground and pound effectively.
James tries to hold on but Segel pushes him away.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
James wants to control but Segel is having none of it.
Segel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying desperately to improve position.
James has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

James is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Segel gets his way!
Segel doesn't have the hooks in and James manages to turn into his guard.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Segel has wrist control.

James has gone for a leg lock! Segel slips out almost immediately though and dives into James's guard.

James is looking for a triangle but Segel pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Segel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James is trying to keep Segel in close.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Segel gets back to half guard.
James trying to control from half guard but Segel is working away.
James lands strikes from half guard.
James is taking a breather. Segel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Segel won't allow James to pass to mount.
James is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Segel!
Segel has given up his back.
James wants to control but Segel is keeping busy.
Frank James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Segel is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if James gets his way!
James doesn't have the hooks in and Segel manages to turn into his guard.
James strikes from his own guard.
Segel won't allow James to sweep him here.
Segel postures up.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Segel.
Well Segel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Segel!