PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Laws (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacob Laws had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 157.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Laws
vs
James

181 cm
25
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Laws!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Julian James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laws moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Laws shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Laws sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laws goes for a double leg but James avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as James continues to drive forward.
Laws drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Laws. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laws is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laws is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laws down to the mat. Laws avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laws defends it nicely.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laws tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laws to the ground. Laws escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from James there as he acknowledges the shot.
Laws tries to clinch but James moves away

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

James jumps guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Laws thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Laws tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Laws won't allow James to sweep him here.

Laws drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Laws jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
James wants to sweep here but Laws controlling him for the moment.
Laws trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James striking off his back but it's not causing Laws any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laws controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
James has Laws pulled in close to control his posture.

Laws thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Laws wants to stand but James is controlling his posture from full guard.
Laws won't allow James to sweep him here.
Laws trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jacob Laws has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Laws tries to clinch but James moves away

and James moves into the clinch.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Laws won't allow it.
Laws gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
Laws struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Laws.
Laws is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laws wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.
James controlling the action here for a moment.
James wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Laws is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but James is defending well.
James tries to pull guard but Laws holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.

Laws is trying to trip James. He has hold of a leg but James is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Laws persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
James is adopting a defensive guard.
James trying to strike off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James wants to control but Laws passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jacob Laws will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James tries to work over Laws's front leg with a kick but Laws checks it.
Laws avoids the head kick by James.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jacob Laws is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laws checks a low kick from James.
Laws stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Laws wants it to stay on the feet.
Laws leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jacob Laws has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julian James.

Laws has managed to clinch.
Laws wants to break free but James has control.
Laws gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
James misses with a knee to the head.
Laws gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laws breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laws tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Laws which made him look bad.

James clinches.
James displaying some good clinch control by pressing Laws up against the cage.

Laws jumps guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laws is on top in guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Laws from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Laws passes into side control.

Laws is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. James looks calm but he's in trouble here. Laws gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. James is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Laws lets go of the hold and James can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jacob Laws!
Our winner, Jacob Laws, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.