PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between EF Hutton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rob Zombie - Never Gonna Stop. Renato James told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hutton
vs
James

186 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

186 cm
18
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, EF Hutton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Renato James!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Renato James has been cut.

Hutton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hutton is nestled in close to James, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hutton won't allow James to sweep him here.

James isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hutton stacks James on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hutton!
Hutton wants to control but James is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to buck Hutton off but Hutton is having none of it.
Hutton scoring with punches from side control.
Hutton working the body and head with strikes.
Hutton wants to stand but James has his arm trapped.
James is looking for a sweep.
Hutton tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hutton in side control, throwing shots but James defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Hutton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hutton prefers to stall for the moment though.

Hutton stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hutton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hutton wants to break free but James has control.
James keeps control of Hutton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hutton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
James can't get the takedown.

Hutton manages to break the clinch.
Hutton misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hutton throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
Hutton lands a head shot.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Hutton tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hutton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
EF Hutton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato James.
James looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hutton tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hutton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hutton misses with a two punch combination.
James stuffs the takedown.
A big left from Hutton misses.
EF Hutton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hutton tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

so James counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hutton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.
Hutton looking for a sweep. Not yet Hutton, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James stops Hutton from standing up.
James wants to control from the top but Hutton keeps moving.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Hutton.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James won't allow Hutton to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hutton misses the shot to the body.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hutton thuds his right hand into James's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hutton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hutton fails with an attempt to clinch.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hutton misses with a takedown
and James counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Good leg kick by Hutton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hutton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hutton working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Hutton is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hutton throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hutton doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
James cracks Hutton with a solid left hand.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Hutton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hutton wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Hutton stopping the sweep attempt from James.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hutton's guard.

Hutton pushes James off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hutton!
Hutton is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hutton is trying to stand.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Hutton bucks and avoids them well.
Hutton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
James won't let Hutton get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hutton can't escape the position.

James is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hutton has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hutton!
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hutton is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hutton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hutton but Hutton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Hutton tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hutton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
EF Hutton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato James.
Hutton tries to clinch but James moves away
and James makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hutton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renato James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Renato James's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hutton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A choreographed right hand from Hutton misses the target.
James shoots in for a double leg but Hutton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick by Hutton misses

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hutton won't be happy with that.
James taking a break here but Hutton is having none of it and regains half guard.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Renato James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hutton wants to control but James is keeping busy.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hutton tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hutton is doing well to control the position and prevent James from advancing to side control.
Hutton blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James is keen to just control but Hutton is a slippery customer.
Hutton tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hutton avoids a kick to the body.
Hutton clinches but James breaks the clinch

and James counters with a shoot takedown. Hutton fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hutton has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes James off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hutton clinches but James breaks the clinch

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James throwing shots but Hutton is blocking nicely.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Hutton defends the submission attempt.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hutton keeps working.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is just content to waste time from the top position. Hutton takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hutton keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James won't allow Hutton to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hutton misses with a straight right.
Nice sprawl there from Hutton as James shoots in.
EF Hutton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato James.
Hutton misses with an attempted mid kick.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hutton.
Hutton jabs James right on the nose. James blinks but takes it well.

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 fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hutton throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hutton dodges the punch combination from James.
Hutton with a poor takedown
and James counters with a head kick.
Hutton lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hutton misses with a body shot.
Hutton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hutton checks a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hutton throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Hutton misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

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