PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Rich (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
Rich

176 cm
29
184 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

177 cm
25
180 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse James!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Rich!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rich has a takedown stuffed.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James wants to clinch but Rich slips to the side
and Rich counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jesse James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Rich.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rich is keeping busy.
Rich blocks an uppercut.
James lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.
James misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rich has James pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. James manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
James lands a nice uppercut.
Rich jumps guard but James stands there with Rich around his waist. Rich gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rich blocks an uppercut.
Rich fails to pull guard.
James working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Rich tries to tie him up.
Rich content to slow the pace in the clinch.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a short shot to the head.
James misses with the head strike.
Rich blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James misses with a body punch.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James trying to stall but Rich improves his position.
Rich holding his opponent close, against the cage.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
James struggling a bit here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James struggling a bit here.
Rich tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Rich working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rich sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but James is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich controls the position from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James wants to get back to his feet but Rich drags him back down.
James seems a little lost for a moment, as Rich dominates the positioning.
James is not content to let Rich control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick Rich will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Rich there.
Rich tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rich shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Rich keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rich counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in James's guard now.
Rich wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rich prevents James from getting back to his feet.

Rich decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Rich circles away.
Rich changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Rich manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jesse James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Rich.

Rich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
James keeping moving, preventing Rich from controlling successfully.

Rich thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rich prevents James from getting back to his feet.
Rich is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rich wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rick Rich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rich drives through with a takedown into guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Rich from controlling successfully.
Rich controlling from the top position.
Rich's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rick Rich has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rich backs up against the cage.
James avoids the head kick by Rich.
Nice jab there from James.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

James drives through and clinches with Rich against the cage.
James is pressed up against the cage. Rich has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rich shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
James moves in looking to clinch but Rich pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rich, pushing him back against the cage.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Rich wants the takedown. James is fighting it off but Rich persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in James's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rich is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Rich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
James keeping moving, preventing Rich from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Rich.
James closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rich counters with a solid body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Rich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rich has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed James clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rich trying to control.

Rich has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, James has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rich trying to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich looking for the RNC.

James showing good submission defense here.
James is trying to get back to his feet but Rich has full control of the position and if anything, James has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rich misses with an elbow to the head.
James is keeping busy.

Rich is looking for the choke from the back position but James is controlling his hands well.
Rich just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Rich goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. James escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Jesse James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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.
Rich misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rich trying to control from the bottom.
Rich is looking to improve his position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Rich looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is thwarting Rich's attempts to control the position.
Rich is trying to defend against the ground and pound but James scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rich wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Rich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rich winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Rich!
Rick Rich is the new welterweight champion!