PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oberyn Martell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

James
vs
Martell

179 cm
31
183 lbs
17 - 12 - 1

184 cm
30
183 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 17 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oberyn Martell!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James lands a two punch combo.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Martell.
A right hand to the body from James.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Martell stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
James trying to stall but Martell improves his position.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Martell is defending well for now.
James works on Martell's body with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Martell backwards.
James working aggressively here.
Knees in the clinch landing for James.
James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Martell backwards.
Martell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
James lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Martell or not.
James lands a shoulder strike.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
Our sources have told us that James has been working on his elbows in the gym.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a damaging elbow.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martell misses with a knee to the head.
James stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
James misses with some punches.
Martell stalling the fight.
Martell is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Martell into the cage.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martell takes a shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.
Martell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
James connects with a knee to the head.
Martell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Martell lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
James is pushing Martell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Martell working aggressively here.
Martell trying to land knees to the body.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Martell blocks with his arms.
Martell tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Martell tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
James blocks an elbow strike from Martell.
Martell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Martell.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Martell backwards.
Martell lands a nice uppercut.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James lands on the inside with an uppercut.
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Martell throws an elbow that misses.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Martell.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Martell.
Martell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Martell lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
James lands a body shot.
A short uppercut from James.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Martell.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Martell up against the cage.
Martell swings wildly with an uppercut but James uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell throws a head punch that misses.
James scores with an uppercut up the middle.
James lands a shot to the body.
James tries to throw a body punch but Martell avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
The referee calls for James to work.
Martell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Martell's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Martell.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martell is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Martell uses good head movement to avoid it.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James throws a head kick but Martell moves out of range.
James tries to clinch but Martell moves out of range.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from James does no damage.
James tries to clinch there but Martell circles away.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Martell gets slowly back to his feet.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from James.
Martell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rick James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martell swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Martell tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James lands with an overhand left.
James scores with a hook to the body. Martell takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rick James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martell moves out of range as James strikes.
Martell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
James misses with a looping left.
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Martell closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
James swings for the body but Martell moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martell connects with a looping right hand.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Martell misses with a hook.
Martell connects with a body shot that sends James's belly button to the back.
James tries to clinch up but Martell circles away and keeps his distance.
James misses with a double jab

and Martell moves into the clinch.
Martell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Martell misses with the head strike.
James is looking to control Martell's arms but Martell gets an underhook and turns him. Now James has his back to the cage.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Martells head.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James scores with an uppercut up the middle.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Martell misses with the head strike.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James stalling against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
James lands a hook to the side of the head.
Martell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.

It looks like Rick James has been cut.
James lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Martell prevents a body shot from James.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Martell manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
James tries to throw a body punch but Martell avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
James blocks an elbow strike from Martell.
Martell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Martell is defending well for now.
Martell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martell avoids it.
James lands a nice elbow.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martell pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from James on the inside.
Martell misses with an elbow strike.
Martell makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Martell's elbow.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Martell.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The referee calls for James to work.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Martell.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rick James's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Martell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
James wants to clinch.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rick James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
James scores with a one two! Martell had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rick James is winning the standup battle so far.
Martell feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jamess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
James lands with a good body shot.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martell checks a leg kick.
James tries a head kick but it misses.
Martell clobbers James with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
James throws a leg kick that misses.
Martell blocks a jab.
Martell sizes up James with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Martell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James throws a right hand that misses

and Martell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice elbow from Martell.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martell.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Martell is blocking nicely.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James blocks an elbow strike.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Martell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Martell lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Martell trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Martell can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
A shot in the inside from James.
James lands on the inside with an uppercut.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Martell is defending well for now.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Martell blocks with his arms.
James connects with a knee to the head.
Martell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Martell lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martell taking a breather.
James gets through Martell's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Martell blocking some punches.
Martell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rick James has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Martell throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from James.
A nice left hand lands by James.
Martell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Martell scores with a nice short uppercut.
Martell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Martell lands a right hand.
James lands with a right to the head.
Martell misses with a punch on the inside.
James lands with a left to the head.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martell is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Martell into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martell obliges.
James tries a body shot but Martell blocks it.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Martell.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Oberyn Martell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell misses with a knee to the head.
Martell lands with a short head shot on the inside.
James misses with a body punch.
James trying to control the position but instead, Martell has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
Martell avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martell blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as James takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Martell controls his hands.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Martell controls his hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knees to the body from Martell.
James avoiding damage as Martell throws knees to the body.
Rick James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Martell lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
A short left from Martell.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Oberyn Martell.
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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick James!
Rick James was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Oberyn Martell spoke after the fight, saying 'Through adversity we triumph. Can't know the glory of Success without failure.'.