PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Mack is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

James
vs
Mack

190 cm
19
260 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Mack!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Mack breaks the clinch.

Mack moves into the clinch successfully.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Mack won't allow it.

Mack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mack.
Mack has a takedown stuffed.

Mack forces James back against the cage and clinches.

Mack breaks the clinch.
James avoids the head kick by Mack.

Mack looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for James!
Mack working away from the top, dropping strikes.
James trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mack postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. James looks a forlorn figure.

Mack with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack tries to control but James wriggling away.
James in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mack is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. James can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mack takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mack trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mack raining down shots from the mount!
Mack landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mack wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
James in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mack working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Mack working for a submission but James is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mack pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Mack is working for a guillotine from mount but James frees his head quite easily.
Mack won't let James get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack trying to control but James is having none of it.

Mack jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but James manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mack landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mack has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mack putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mack lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
James takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mack landing strikes from the mount and James is in trouble!
The referee warns James that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mack scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish James?
Mack lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?
Mack wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mack looking to finish James with some ground and pound. This is bad for James!
A nice elbow there by Mack.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Mack dominated that round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A combination from James does no damage.

Mack darts in and clinches James up against the cage.

Mack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mack feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Mack changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
James trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Mack is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
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.
Mack stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Mack stands up from James's guard - Mack perhaps looking for a knockout.
James wants to clinch but Mack slips to the side
letting Mack counter with a right hand.
James misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mack counters with a leg kick.
A head kick by James misses
and Mack counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mack tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mack tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mack throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mack tries to clinch there but James circles away.

Mack gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mack keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mack keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James connects with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James looks to land a combination but Mack avoids it well.
James closes the distance but Mack moves to the side
and Mack counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mack throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Mack closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Mack pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mack tries to clinch but fails miserably

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James throws a big right hand that misses.

Mack is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mack pushes James off and gets back to his feet.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a left to the body.
Justin James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Mack.
James darts in trying to clinch

and Mack counters with a takedown into side control.
John Mack has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mack connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused James some visible discomfort.
James is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mack is controlling him well.
James sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mack missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mack trying to mount his opponent but James defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is trying to stand up here but Mack is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mack gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Mack lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mack throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

James drives through and clinches with Mack against the cage.
James stalling in the clinch.

James breaks from the clinch.
Mack throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

James clinches.

Mack manages to break the clinch.
James shoots and misses
and Mack counters with a left and a right that stings James.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Mack closes the distance and clinches.
Mack is trying to break free.

Mack has hold of one of James's legs. James is fighting the takedown attempt but Mack gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Mack showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mack darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Mack.

Mack breaks from the clinch.
Mack lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mack.
Mack gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mack tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mack's guard now.
James prevents Mack from getting back to his feet.
Mack looking to control.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Mack has wrist control.

Mack scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Mack or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Justin James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mack throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mack misses with a double jab.
Mack stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Mack tries to land a leg kick but James saw it coming and moves away.
James closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mack counters with a nice uppercut.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
James prevents Mack from escaping the position.
James working away.
Mack is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James stands up and beckons Mack to his feet.

Mack fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Mack on the inside.
Mack misses with an elbow strike.
Mack leaning against his opponent.

Mack breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James stalks Mack and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mack's face. Mack staggers backwards, shaken.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Mack swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mack counters with a three punch combo that has James backing up. James nods at Mack to acknowledge the strikes.
Mack fails in his attempt to clinch.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Mack tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mack manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick by James misses

and Mack decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in James's guard.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Mack is proving a slippery customer.
Mack trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

Mack stands up and waves to James to follow him.
James takes a swing at Mack's ribcage but misses.
Mack moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack blocks a head kick by James.
James throws a combination that misses

and Mack holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Mack breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from James does no damage.
Mack swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Mack.
Mack throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.

Mack has James up against the cage in a clinch.
Mack landing some nice looking knees to the body.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mack keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mack keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Mack manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from Mack does no damage.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Justin James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mack darts in trying to clinch

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

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 Justin James.
Well Mack 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Mack!