PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jim James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russel Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Bell

168 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Bell!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bell has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James missing with knees to the body.
Bell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Bell has double underhooks.

Bell manages to break the clinch.
Bell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bell blocks a head kick by James.
Bell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Bell persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt.
Jim James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Bell.
Bell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bell fails to land the takedown.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Bell moves out of range easily.
James throws a head kick that half lands.
James darts in trying to clinch

and Bell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
I looks like Bell might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to kick Bell off but Bell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bell controlling the action here.
Bell is tying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
James is trying to stand.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bell connects with a nice short shot to James's temple.
Bell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
James is not content to let Bell control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Russel Bell just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Bell with that takedown attempt.
Bell closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Bell pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James throws a right hand that Bell ducks under and follows up with a left that Bell also avoids with ease.
James falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bell counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.
James is breathing heavily.
Bell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Bell has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to stand but Bell is controlling the position.
Bell looking to pass the guard.
Bell controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bell won't allow James to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Bell feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Bell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bell stands up from James's guard - Bell perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Bell dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from James as Bell shoots in.
Nice sprawl there from James as Bell shoots in.
James misses with a head kick.
Jim James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bell fails to land the takedown.
Jim James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Bell.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt.
Bell slips a jab and a cross from James.
Bell shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick by James misses

and Bell counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here as Bell stalls from top position.
Bell trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bell just content to control the position.
Bell wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
The referee asks Bell politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bell prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bell trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Russel Bell just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James throws a lazy head kick

and Bell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bell is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bell stops James from getting back to his feet.
Bell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Bell seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.
James tries to kick Bell off but Bell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Bell slows the pace down in half guard.
James wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
James really wants to buck Bell off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.
Bell landing shots from mount.
Bell wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
Bell controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Bell 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!

Bell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bell closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Bell pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bell shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jim James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Bell.
James misses with a kick to the body.
Bell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bell clinches up against the cage.
James lands an elbow just above Bell 's eye.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James tries to break the clinch but Bell is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell jumps guard but James stands there with Bell around his waist. Bell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bell prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Bell fails to pull guard.
Bell fails to pull guard.

Bell drags the fight down to the ground.
Bell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell looking for a sweep. Not yet Bell, not yet.
Bell wants to hit a switch here but James passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bell there!
Bell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

James stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
James throws a series of punches but Bell avoids them all with ease.
Bell fails to land the takedown.
James throws a sloppy head kick

and Bell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bell.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell misses with a wild body shot.
James throws a head kick that misses.

Bell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Bell has double underhooks.
James is trying to break the clinch but Bell has him pressed against the cage.

Bell gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
James keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
Bell trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
Bell wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bell is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bell avoids the head kick by James.

James gets caught flat footed, as Bell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bell chips away with some ground and pound.
Bell controlling from the top position.
James wants to stand but Bell is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russel Bell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russel Bell!