PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Dawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathaniel Dawkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dawkins
vs
James

172 cm
20
156 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

173 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathaniel Dawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sid James!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dawkins is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
Dawkins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dawkins is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
Dawkins being controlled for a moment.
Dawkins is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
James in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dawkins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins prevents James from improving position.
Dawkins is trying to get back to half guard.
Dawkins is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dawkins rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dawkins or not.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dawkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Dawkins shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Dawkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dawkins sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
James throwing shots but Dawkins is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dawkins is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.
Dawkins is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins is looking to improve his position.
James is thwarting Dawkins's attempts to control the position.
Dawkins is trying to stand.
James frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dawkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dawkins is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Dawkins is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Dawkins has worked his arm free - good work by Dawkins!
Dawkins manages to work his way to half guard, despite James's best efforts.
Dawkins gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dawkins is on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dawkins stands up and waves to James to follow him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dawkins shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sid James will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dawkins fails with a takedown attempt.
James leaves Dawkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nathaniel Dawkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dawkins quickly recovers to half guard.
Dawkins is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sid James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James is looking to stall here but Dawkins recovers full guard.
Dawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
James is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins working James over with strikes here.
James 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 regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dawkins trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James is pulling down on Dawkins's head. It's preventing any offense from Dawkins, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dawkins is controlling him.
Dawkins trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nathaniel Dawkins just wasn't active enough.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to take a break and control but Dawkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dawkins is trying to improve his position.
Dawkins gets back to half guard.
Dawkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dawkins is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dawkins avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is keen to just control but Dawkins is a slippery customer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
James wants to free his trapped foot but Dawkins is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Sid James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Dawkins misses with a wild combination.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James is looking to take a break and control but Dawkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dawkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
James leaning against his opponent.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
James stalling against the cage.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Dawkins is blocking nicely.
Dawkins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
James lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

James breaks the clinch.
Dawkins fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dawkins tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dawkins to the ground. Dawkins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dawkins as he jumps to the side.
Dawkins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Dawkins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dawkins wants it to stay on the feet.
Nathaniel Dawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sid James.
Dawkins misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

James gets a double leg takedown into Dawkins's guard.
James is looking to stand up but Dawkins won't let him.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Dawkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dawkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to keep Dawkins in close.
Dawkins trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Dawkins wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dawkins trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James wants to stand and escape but Dawkins is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dawkins shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
Dawkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sid James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dawkins is keeping the position for now.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James is looking to pass into half guard but Dawkins pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Dawkins is in guard.
Dawkins pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dawkins wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

Dawkins seems to be looking for submissions.

Dawkins seems to be looking for submissions.
James is trying to stand back up but Dawkins is controlling him
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawkins prevents James from improving his position.
Nathaniel Dawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dawkins.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sid James.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

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