PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny LaRusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaRusso comes to the cage accompanied by You're The Best!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

LaRusso
vs
James

182 cm
26
182 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

179 cm
24
183 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny LaRusso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaRusso connects with a single shot there.
Nice uppercut there from LaRusso.
Jab from LaRusso.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James lands a head kick!
James avoids the body shot from LaRusso.

LaRusso lands a big head kick that sends James tumbling to the mat! LaRusso takes a step backwards and waves James back to his feet - he wants the finish!

James is rocked!

James gets tackled into the cage by LaRusso. LaRusso maintains the clinch.
James is still on wobbly legs! Can LaRusso finish him?
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from LaRusso.
James seems to have recovered his senses.
James tries a knee to the head but LaRusso blocks it.
LaRusso has a couple of punches blocked by James.
A left hand lands to the body for LaRusso.
James landing some nice looking knees to the body.

LaRusso pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
LaRusso tries a head kick but it misses.
LaRusso thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on James if he has to take too many more of those.
LaRusso lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRusso will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
James scores with a hook.

Oooooh!!! LaRusso has knocked James down with a huge combo! LaRusso steps away and waves a wobbly James back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
LaRusso misses with a wild body shot.
James throws a hook to the side of LaRusso's head but LaRusso sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
James misses with a body kick.
LaRusso with a hook.
LaRusso missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
LaRusso throws an ugly left hook that misses
and James counters with an inside leg kick.
LaRusso misses with an uppercut
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
LaRusso throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
LaRusso digs a good hook to James's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by LaRusso. LaRusso obviously looking to wear him down.
LaRusso pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
LaRusso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from LaRusso.
LaRusso misses with a wild combination.
LaRusso misses with a low kick.
LaRusso has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from James finds it's way round the side to connect with LaRusso's head.
LaRusso checks a leg kick.

LaRusso clinches up against the cage.
James misses with a punch to the body.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but LaRusso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as LaRusso controls his hands.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land a knee to the head but LaRusso blocks with his arms.

LaRusso pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
James blocks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from LaRusso.
James connects with an inside leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for LaRusso.
LaRusso tries a head kick but it misses.
James ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
James throws the kick towards the body but LaRusso avoids it.
LaRusso throws a sloppy head kick
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by James!
LaRusso avoids the head kick by James.
James throws a series of punches but LaRusso moves out of range.
LaRusso just misses with a punch to the body.
LaRusso circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
LaRusso misses the shot to the body.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

LaRusso fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from James - that landed with a thud.
James tries a knee to the head but LaRusso blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and LaRusso avoids it.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

LaRusso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. James sees it coming and avoids it easily.
LaRusso rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaRusso scores with a jab. James acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
James scoring well with a low kick there.
LaRusso throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
A good leg kick by LaRusso.
LaRusso misses the shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from James.
LaRusso misses the shot to the body.
LaRusso dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by LaRusso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
LaRusso fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but James is out of range.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
LaRusso finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

James pushes LaRusso up against the cage in a clinch.
James misses with a knee to the head.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
LaRusso manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
James tries a knee to the head but LaRusso blocks it.
James misses with a knee to the head.
LaRusso throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James missing with knees to the body.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from LaRusso.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as LaRusso takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
LaRusso lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
LaRusso managing to block the knees to the body from James.
LaRusso can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
James lands an elbow inside that LaRusso shrugs off.
James missing with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James looking to throw knees to the head but LaRusso is blocking nicely.
LaRusso blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
James tries to land a knee to the head but LaRusso blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to stall.
LaRusso tries a body shot but James blocks it.
James working LaRusso over with knees to the body.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good body shot from LaRusso.

LaRusso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
LaRusso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
LaRusso throws a leg kick which misses James's front leg but catches the back leg as James tries to avoid it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from James - that will leave a mark!
LaRusso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
LaRusso dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnny LaRusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James tries to clinch but LaRusso moves out of range.
Johnny LaRusso is winning the standup battle so far.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
LaRusso throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick lands from James.
LaRusso blocks a head kick by James.
James motions for LaRusso to come forward. James throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
LaRusso walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. James checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
LaRusso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from LaRusso.
LaRusso is looking to land body kicks.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James blocks a head kick by LaRusso.
LaRusso goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
LaRusso throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny LaRusso dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

LaRusso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
LaRusso scores with a shot to the body.
LaRusso throws a head kick that misses.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from LaRusso.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
LaRusso is looking to wear down James with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A shot to the liver by James. Beautiful body shot.
LaRusso throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
LaRusso misses with a body shot.
LaRusso lands with a hook. James tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
James connects with a body shot that sends LaRusso's belly button to the back.
James misses with a body kick.
James scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRusso misses with a telegraphed body shot

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
James can't find room to land a body shot as LaRusso controls the action.
Rick James seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
LaRusso lands a body punch.
LaRusso takes an elbow to the forehead.
LaRusso throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
James working some nice short punches in the clinch.
James unloads a knee to the mid-section. LaRusso lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
James taking a breather.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from LaRusso.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
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 real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but LaRusso uses good head movement to avoid it.
LaRusso struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
LaRusso lands with a short punch from the clinch.
LaRusso tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but LaRusso uses good head movement to avoid it.
LaRusso scores with a shoulder strike.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but LaRusso blocks it with crossed arms.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but LaRusso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but LaRusso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James missing with knees to the body.
LaRusso wants to stall.
LaRusso tries to circle away but James has him pinned against the cage.
LaRusso can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
LaRusso is trying to stall.
LaRusso will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning James up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
James trying to control the position but instead, LaRusso has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
LaRusso goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
LaRusso leaning his opponent against the cage.

LaRusso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for James.
LaRusso throws a leg kick but James sees it coming and moves out of range.
LaRusso is looking to chop away at James's legs.
LaRusso circles away from the clinch attempt
and LaRusso counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
This has been an exciting period of action!
LaRusso throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
James gets cracked there but stands up to it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaRusso throws a leg kick which misses James's front leg but catches the back leg as James tries to avoid it.
LaRusso just misses with a punch to the body.
Rick James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James avoids the body shot from LaRusso.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny LaRusso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for LaRusso, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

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