PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Gallant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gallant
vs
James

185 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Hilo

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Gallant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony James!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gallant did well to prevent James getting side control.
James tries to pass to full mount but Gallant defends it.
Gallant is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
James wants to stand but Gallant has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
James sitting and controlling from the half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tony James hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gallant.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gallant gets caught napping as James dives in and scores a takedown. Gallant manages to retain guard.
James cracks Gallant with a solid left hand.
James wants to stand but Gallant is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gallant keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gallant's head.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
James looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tony James wasn't active enough on the ground.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gallant is looking for a takedown.
Gallant has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by James after a bit of a struggle.
Gallant is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Gallant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gallant tries for a takedown. No joy.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tony James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

James gets a clinch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gallant doesn't seem bothered though.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gallant's guard.
Gallant is breathing heavily.
Gallant keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
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!
Gallant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

James tries for a takedown but Gallant sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gallant tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gallant swivels and escapes.
James with a poor takedown

and Gallant counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Matthew Gallant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony James.
James sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to control but Gallant passes into side control!
James manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is looking to stall here but Gallant recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gallant is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.
James trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gallant can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James is trying to keep Gallant in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tony James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A head kick misses from James.
James's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and James duly obliges.
Matthew Gallant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James throws a head kick but Gallant moves out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gallant as he jumps to the side.
James is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gallant shoots and misses
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James scores with a takedown into Gallant's guard.

James drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gallant looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gallant looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gallant!
James tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gallant presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
James is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to control but Gallant is having none of it.
James is controlling an arm, preventing Gallant from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two 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 is trying to escape the mount.
James wants to control but Gallant is having none of it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tony James wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gallant takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gallant fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gallant as he jumps to the side.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James tries for a kimura but Gallant is defending well.
Gallant is trying to improve his position.
Gallant regains half guard there - taking advantage of James's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

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