PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ferdinando Ferrari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

James
vs
Ferrari

179 cm
26
183 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

178 cm
29
180 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

Crippler's Corner
Hit Squad Clothing

Crippler's Corner

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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ferdinando Ferrari!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferrari attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Ferrari does it's job there.
James lands with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Ferrari. Those never looked like landing.
Ferrari throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
James slips under a jab from Ferrari.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James tries to clinch but Ferrari is having none of it.
James tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ferrari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ferrari defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Ferdinando Ferrari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James jabs Ferrari to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferrari throws a right hand that misses
letting James counter with a right hand.
James tries to clinch there but Ferrari circles away.
Ferrari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ferrari scores with a nice strike.
Ferrari looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.
Ferrari moves out of range of the body kick.
James tries to land a front kick but Ferrari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ferrari thows a left - swing and a miss!
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Ferrari drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ferrari working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ferrari postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

James pushes Ferrari off and gets back to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ferrari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Ferrari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. James was covering up waiting for the punch and Ferrari finishes the takedown easily into guard.
James wants to stand and escape but Ferrari is having none of it.
Ferrari preventing the sweep.
Ferrari is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ferrari throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Ferrari from controlling successfully.
James pulls Ferrari in close to prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James throws a one two combo.
Ferrari throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
James throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick by James misses
and Ferrari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James connects with an inside leg kick.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ferrari swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Ferrari, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ferrari throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
James throws a body punch but Ferrari moves out of range.
Ferrari throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
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!
James moves out of range of the strikes.
Ferrari moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rick James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ferrari blocks the body kick.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ferrari.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ferrari is looking to score with low kicks.
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 Rick James will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ferrari scores with a leg kick.
Ferrari is looking to land body kicks.
James chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Some wild striking there from Ferrari.
Ferrari dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
James avoids the body shot from Ferrari.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
James lands a knee to the head.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
Ferrari blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Ferrari's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ferrari misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Ferrari on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ferrari jumps guard.
Ferrari is trying to keep James in close.

Ferrari is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
Ferrari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ferrari is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari stops James from standing up.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ferrari postures up.
James has Ferrari pulled in close to control his posture.
James wants to stand up but Ferrari is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ferrari looking to pass the guard.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rick James just wasn't active enough.
James steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ferrari.
Ferrari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James forces Ferrari back against the cage and clinches.
Ferrari is looking for a takedown.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ferrari blocks an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Ferrari's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James lands with a left to the head.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ferrari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
James lands on the inside with an uppercut.
James leaning against his opponent.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ferrari wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James blocking some punches.
A short right from Ferrari.
James lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ferrari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ferrari swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with an elbow strike.
Ferrari is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Ferrari avoids the damage to the body.
James lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ferrari backwards.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ferrari has James pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. James manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rick James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ferdinando Ferrari.
Ferrari lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ferrari swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
James connects with a knee to the head.
James prevents a body shot from Ferrari.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Ferrari avoids the damage to the body.
Ferrari is looking to break free of the clinch but James has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a knee strike.
James misses with a knee to the head.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ferrari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
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 Rick James will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ferrari pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Ferrari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ferrari dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Ferrari's head and hops out.
Rick James is winning the standup battle so far.
James defending well as Ferrari loads up on a big left hand.
Ferrari looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.

Ferrari closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. James quickly recovers to half guard.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ferrari.
James looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ferrari seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but James does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James tries to roll over but Ferrari keeps him under control.
Ferrari wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
Ferrari passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ferrari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ferrari in side control, throwing shots but James defends.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Ferrari keeps moving and retains side control.
Ferrari working the ground and pound but James is defending the strikes.
Ferrari is working James over with some ground and pound from side control.
James is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
James manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Ferrari manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ferdinando Ferrari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari wants to hit a switch here but James passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ferrari there!
Ferrari is trying to escape the mount.
Ferrari sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
James trying to mount his opponent but Ferrari defends it.
James with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ferdinando Ferrari has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari is looking to improve his position.
Ferrari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ferrari looking for submissions off his back.
James is trying to control. Ferrari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari is looking to improve his position.
Ferrari regains full guard. Nicely done.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ferrari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ferrari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ferdinando Ferrari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rick James!
Rick James decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.