PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Gerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Gerson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

James
vs
Gerson

185 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Gerson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gerson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.
James has a closed guard, preventing Gerson from standing up.
Gerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

James scrambles and gets back to his feet.
James wants to clinch.
Gerson with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gerson trying to control here.
Gerson is refusing to be controlled, as James sits in half guard.
Gerson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gerson.
Gerson working a defensive guard but James passes into half guard.
Gerson looks gassed!
James slips a nice elbow through Gerson's hands, connecting with Gerson's forehead.
Nice strikes from James there.

Gerson actively working from the bottom here.

James stands up from half guard.

Gerson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gerson works over James with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerson preventing the sweep.
Gerson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gerson.
Gerson trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gerson tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

James shoots in and bounces Gerson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gerson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James stands and steps away. Gerson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jesse James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James shoots in for a double leg but Gerson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gerson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gerson fails with the takedown

and James counters with a shoot takedown. Gerson fights it but they end up in guard.
Gerson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James gets to his feet. Gerson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gerson wants to control but James is having none of it.
Gerson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
James preventing the sweep.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gerson wants to sweep but no luck.

Gerson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gerson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gerson is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.
James landing small, sideways elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

James tries for a takedown but Gerson circles away easily

and Gerson counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.

Gerson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and James dives on top into guard.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gerson looking for a sweep. Not yet Gerson, not yet.
Gerson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gerson, up you get!
James with a nice cross.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gerson's guard.

Gerson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. James is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gerson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take James's back instead.
Gerson looking to hold on to the position here but James rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Gerson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gerson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James is looking to stand up but Gerson isn't so interested in that idea.
James keeping moving, preventing Gerson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gerson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!
James wants to clinch but Gerson slips to the side

and Gerson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
James wants to get back to his feet.
James misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gerson prevents James from standing back up.
James is pressing down on Gerson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

James pushes Gerson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Thiago Gerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gerson tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerson wants to sweep but no luck.

Gerson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Gerson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gerson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

Gerson has gone for a leg lock! James slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gerson's guard.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gerson lands a decent punch to the body there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerson looking to control.
James trying to control but Gerson is working from the bottom.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James wants to control from the top but Gerson keeps moving.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gerson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 Jesse James will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gerson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
James tries to move to mount but Gerson blocks the move with his legs.
Gerson tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but James presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

James has hold of Gerson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gerson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gerson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gerson missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerson gets full guard.

Gerson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gerson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gerson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
James postures up.

Gerson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jesse James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Gerson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gerson wants to sweep but no luck.

Gerson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gerson wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Gerson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gerson working a defensive guard here.
Gerson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control James kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gerson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James chips away with some ground and pound.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James misses with a takedown attempt - Gerson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Gerson. Gerson gets slowly back to his feet.
Gerson shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James catches Gerson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

James scores with a takedown into Gerson's guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerson trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
James trying to control but Gerson is working from the bottom.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

James stands up from Gerson's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

James stands up and waves to Gerson to follow him.
Thiago Gerson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

James scores a takedown into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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