PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Van James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leanne Douglas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by Solar Flare Homicide. Douglas has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Van James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
Douglas

187 cm
25
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Van James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leanne Douglas!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Douglas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

James has managed to clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Douglas manages to get underhooks.
James landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Douglas looks winded!

James manages to break the clinch.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
James scores with a crisp jab that stopped Douglas in his tracks.
Douglas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.

James has Douglas up against the cage in a clinch.
James has Douglas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Douglas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Douglas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
James just leaning against Douglas, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
James is working for takedown but Douglas is calmly controlling the position for now.

James rushes Douglas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Douglas is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Douglas down to the mat. Douglas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Douglas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Douglas slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Douglas throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.

James gets a clinch.
Douglas prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Douglas tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Douglas to the ground. Douglas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Douglas, looking for a takedown. James pushes Douglas against the cage but Douglas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Douglas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James scores with a push kick.
Douglas works the jab nicely.
Douglas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

James pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
James controlling the position.
James keeping moving, preventing Douglas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing short punches from the bottom.

James wriggles free and stands up.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Douglas backs up against the cage.

James moves into the clinch successfully.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Douglas tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James tries for a takedown but Douglas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice body kick there by James.
James throws a leg kick which misses Douglas's front leg but catches the back leg as Douglas tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Leanne Douglas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Douglas defends well and James ends up having to push Douglas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Douglas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Douglas sprawls well. Douglas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Douglas tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James shoots in for a takedown but Douglas shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Douglas.
Douglas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Douglas takes a kick to the side of the head.
James looks for a takedown but Douglas sprawls well.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Douglas defends it nicely.

Douglas gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
James wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Sloppy strikes from Douglas. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Douglas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
Danga de danga de dang - Douglas scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Douglas throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.

James moves into the clinch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Douglas circles away.
Douglas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.

James rushes Douglas and presses him up against the cage.
James keeps control of Douglas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Douglas takes a knee right on the jaw!

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James clinches up against the cage.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Douglas prevents it.
James gets underhooks to prevent Douglas's takedown attempt.

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

James instigates a clinch.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Douglas does no damage.

James moves into range and clinches up with Douglas.

James drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping full guard, as Douglas tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is controlling Douglas's posture.

James uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Douglas takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Douglas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Douglas falls off balance throwing a combination
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Douglas. Those never looked like landing.
Douglas throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Douglas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leanne Douglas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Douglas, looking for a takedown. James pushes Douglas against the cage but Douglas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Douglas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
James slips a jab and a cross from Douglas.
James pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Douglas back to the cage. James follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Some wild striking there from Douglas.

James closes the distance and pushes Douglas back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is pressed up against the cage. Douglas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Douglas throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.

James moves into range and clinches up with Douglas.
James leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van James dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

James closes the distance and clinches.

James breaks from the clinch.

James has Douglas up against the cage in a clinch.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Douglas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
James gets underhooks to prevent Douglas's takedown attempt.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
James throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Van James has scored more points in the clinch so far.
James is working for takedown but Douglas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Douglas. No joy for James on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Van James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James darts in and clinches Douglas up against the cage.
James taking a breather.
James tries to pull guard but Douglas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
James is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Douglas is defending well.
Douglas wants to break free but James has control.
James wants a takedown.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Douglas prevents it.
James prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

James darts in and clinches Douglas up against the cage.

James gets control of Douglas's arms and successfully pulls guard. James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
James has a closed guard, preventing Douglas from standing up.
James pulls Douglas in close to prevent any damage.
Leanne Douglas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Van James wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
James plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Douglas falls off balance throwing a combination
and James counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Douglas takes the fight into the clinch.
James looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James pulls guard.
Douglas stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Douglas tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Douglas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Douglas can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James managing to control the position.
Van James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James wants to sweep here but Douglas controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van James!
A relieved looking Van James thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.