PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Limp Bizkit Eat You Alive as his entrance music. 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.

Sabre
vs
James

189 cm
36
184 lbs
41 - 17 - 1

190 cm
36
186 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Meet the Future
Hellbent

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 41 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Sabre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Helio James!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James looks to land a right hand but Sabre moved out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from James.
Helio James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabre swings for the body but James moves out of range.
James looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sabre misses with a wild body shot.
Sabre takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
James walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sabre misses with a low kick as James jumps back.
Sabre swings for the body but James moves out of range.
James misses with a body kick.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sabre.
James blocks a head kick by Sabre.
James takes one on the button.
James drops his hands momentarily and Sabre takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A slapping leg kick lands for James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sabre takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sabre fails with the takedown.
James misses the jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sabre. That's going to slow James down.
Sabre lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sabre throws out the jab.
James slips under a jab.
James throws a head kick that Sabre semi-blocks.
Sabre tries a low kick but James avoids it.
Sabre wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James's coach down at Dark Horse MMA Academy was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on James's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

James clinches up against the cage.
Sabre lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabre misses with some punches.
Sabre wants to stall.
Sabre lands with a light punch inside.
James working aggressively here.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Sabre controls his hands.
James misses with a punch to the body.
Sabre blocks an uppercut.

James manages to break the clinch.
Sabre stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
A lazy left from James finds it's target.
Sabre takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Matt Sabre has been cut.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sabre takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looks to land a body kick but Sabre moved away.
Sabre throws a half hearted mid kick.
James stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sabre.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sabre.
James connects with a single shot there.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sabre.
Sabre misses with a hook. James ducked under it nicely.
James takes one on the button.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as James checks a leg kick.
James paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sabre moves away.
A head kick from James lands but Sabre takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Sabre instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
James misses with a body punch.
James lands a shot to the body.
Sabre tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Sabre back against the cage.
Sabre misses with an elbow strike.
James misses with a body punch.
Sabre leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sabre lands with a left to the head.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sabre blocking some punches.
James misses with some punches.
A body shot lands from Sabre.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sabre.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Helio James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James keeps Sabre at a distance using the push kick.
Sabre takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
James has a takedown stuffed.
Helio James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sabre.
Sabre throws a leg kick
and James finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sabre blocks the body kick.
Sabre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sabre.
Sabre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Sabre throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Sabre does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sabre moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James throws a poor cross that misses

and Sabre counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sabre.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James 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.
Sabre trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Sabre postures up.
Sabre preventing the sweep.
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!
Sabre working some strikes from top position.
Sabre with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James keeping full guard, as Sabre tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sabre works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sabre trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sabre is on top in guard.
Sabre controls from within his opponent's guard.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James wants to improve his position but instead Sabre has moved into half guard.
James gets back to full guard.
Sabre postures up.
Sabre won't allow James to sweep him here.
Sabre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sabre uses it to pass to side control.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sabre's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
James misses with some strikes from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre controlling the action here.
James is not content to let Sabre control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Helio James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

James lands with a nice body punch.
Sabre lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
James keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
James looking to control.
James trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sabre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

James throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sabre escapes and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control!
James is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sabre off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabre preventing the rear naked choke attempt from James.

Sabre is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Sabre trying to control the action but James just sinks the hooks in.
Sabre tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sabre can't escape the position.
James tries to control but Sabre wriggling away.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sabre is looking to escape.
Sabre tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
James prevents Sabre from getting the reversal.
Matt Sabre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sabre tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sabre working to try and regain half guard.
James is stalling here but it's allowed Sabre to get half guard.
Matt Sabre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sabre is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sabre shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sabre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James connects with an inside leg kick.
Sabre takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A leg kick checked by James.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
Sabre dodges the punch combination from James.
An inside leg kick lands from Sabre.
Sabre misses with a low kick.
Sabre takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a jab when Sabre was well out of range.
James takes a body punch but keeps moving.
James changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Sabre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sabre's guard.
Sabre wants to sweep but no luck.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
James preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sabre has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between Sabre's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Sabre.
I think James has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Helio James!
After winning the bout, Helio James thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.