PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Also Zarathustra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zarathustra has chosen Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

James
vs
Zarathustra

186 cm
32
172 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

185 cm
29
185 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

5th Round Clothing

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Also Zarathustra!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Ron James has been cut.
James throws a low kick but Zarathustra moves out of range easily.
Zarathustra jabs at James's body.
James throws a front kick aimed at Zarathustra's knee but Zarathustra avoids it well.
Zarathustra delivers a nice body kick.
James fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zarathustra checks it well.
Zarathustra throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot.
A jab from Zarathustra misses.
James moves away from the strike by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
James takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Zarathustra throws a leg kick

and James moves into the clinch.
Come on Zarathustra - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
James prevents a body shot from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Also Zarathustra has been cut.
Zarathustra lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zarathustra.
James blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zarathustra lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A short uppercut from James.
A short right from James on the inside.
James gets through Zarathustra's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
James blocks a body shot from Zarathustra.
James being controlled against the cage.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Zarathustra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James working aggressively here.
Zarathustra's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zarathustra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands a good knee to the midsection. Zarathustra won't want to take too many of those.
Zarathustra just leaning against James, taking a breather.
James lands a hook to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Zarathustra.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zarathustra's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
James taking a breather.
Zarathustra takes an elbow to the temple.
James trying to control the position but instead, Zarathustra has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Zarathustra.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarathustra lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
James lands a body shot in the clinch.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zarathustra misses with a punch to the body.
A short body shot lands from Zarathustra as the two fighters clinch.
Zarathustra has a couple of punches blocked by James.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James prevents a body shot from Zarathustra.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Zarathustra scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zarathustra pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zarathustra blocking some punches.
Zarathustra lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Zarathustra tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zarathustra swings away with an uppercut that misses.
James lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zarathustra scores with a hook to the body.
Zarathustra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarathustra looking to slow down the pace here.
Zarathustra misses with a body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarathustra misses with a body punch.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James pressing his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Also Zarathustra will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zarathustra lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zarathustra thumps James with a low kick.
James connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zarathustra looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zarathustra throws a push kick but James slaps the foot to one side.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarathustra manages to avoid it.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James staying out of range there.
Zarathustra moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zarathustra throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James blocks the body kick.
That kick from Zarathustra tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zarathustra works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zarathustra tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zarathustra is looking to clinch.
Zarathustra will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zarathustra fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James cracks the inside of Zarathustra's front leg.
Sloppy strikes from Zarathustra. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James connects with a solid leg kick.
A cross from James lands.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zarathustra.
James tries to clinch there but Zarathustra circles away.
Zarathustra misses with a looping left.
A kick lands to the mid section there for James.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James dives in and grabs Zarathustra's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zarathustra pushes down on James's head and hops out.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for James.
James is looking to land body kicks.
Zarathustra throws a sloppy body shot
and James counters with a thumping low kick.
Zarathustra swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zarathustra takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ron James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zarathustra swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Zarathustra misses with a wild body shot.
Zarathustra is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down James rather than just go for the knockout.
James throws a body kick that misses.
James lands a leg kick that knocks Zarathustra off balance momentarily.
James looks to throw the jab but Zarathustra is out of range.
A big right from Zarathustra misses.
Zarathustra sizes up James with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zarathustra takes one to the side of the head.
Zarathustra moves out of range as James throws a body kick.
James moves out of range of the leg kick from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
James explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by James.
James throws a nice outside leg kick.
James moves away from the strike by Zarathustra.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James throws a leg kick but Zarathustra moved away.
James lands a nice shot that snaps Zarathustra's head back.
James with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ron James will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarathustra misses with a leg kick
and James counters with an outside leg kick.
Zarathustra misses with a body kick.
James dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zarathustra. That did some damage!
Zarathustra tries to land a body kick
and James counters with a good low kick that Zarathustra was not able to check.
Zarathustra smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zarathustra throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James motions for Zarathustra to come forward. James throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
James throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
James checks a leg kick.
James is looking to slow Zarathustra down with leg kicks.

James pushes Zarathustra up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James pushes Zarathustra back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zarathustra can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zarathustra blocks an elbow strike from James.
James misses with a knee strike.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James tries a knee to the head but Zarathustra blocks it.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zarathustra's brow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
James throws a head punch that misses.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Zarathustra controls the action.
Zarathustra's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
James misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zarathustra's face.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Zarathustra tries a body shot but James blocks it.
James prevents a body shot from Zarathustra.
Zarathustra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zarathustra leaning his opponent against the cage.
James landing knees to the head.
James pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Zarathustra.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James blocking some punches.
Zarathustra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zarathustra throws a punch but it's blocked by James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra throws a head punch that misses.
James scores with a knee to the head.
Zarathustra misses with a hook from the clinch.
James lands an elbow that stopped Zarathustra in his tracks for a moment.
Zarathustra has a couple of punches blocked by James.
Zarathustra scores with a shoulder strike.
Zarathustra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Zarathustra on the inside.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zarathustra lands a body punch.
Zarathustra misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Zarathustra.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zarathustra is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zarathustra can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a knee to the head.
Zarathustra can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
Zarathustra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
James taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zarathustra.
James throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zarathustras head.

That has opened up Also Zarathustra's cut even more.
James lands a right hand.
James digs a right hand into Zarathustra's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zarathustra's gas tank.
Zarathustra tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Zarathustra back against the cage.
Zarathustra pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Zarathustra backwards.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Zarathustra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Zarathustra backwards.
Zarathustra content to slow the pace in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ron James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ron James!
Ron James seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.