PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce SilvA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Curtis James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Curtis James struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. 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.

SilvA
vs
James

180 cm
19
172 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce SilvA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis James!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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

James drops back looking for a leg! SilvA is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and SilvA manages to kick James off! James jumps back into SilvA's guard.

SilvA looking for submissions from the bottom but instead James passes into side control.
SilvA tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but James presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
SilvA is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
SilvA gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

James looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
SilvA is in all sorts of trouble here.
SilvA bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but SilvA can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
SilvA stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James looks gassed!
SilvA advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

SilvA swings around for an armbar but James sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into SilvA's guard.
SilvA is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
SilvA is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

SilvA is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

SilvA is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
James is pressing down on SilvA's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
SilvA passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is refusing to be controlled, as SilvA sits in half guard.

SilvA seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.

SilvA is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.

SilvA is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.

James is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and SilvA has latched onto it... Big trouble! SilvA pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it James is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from SilvA!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Royce SilvA!