PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jonah Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilson James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Noel
vs
James

196 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonah Noel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilson James!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James clinches up against the cage.
Noel just leaning against James, taking a breather.
Noel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Noel manages to break the clinch.

Noel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James being controlled for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to escape but Noel is in control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Jonah Noel has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
James with a poor takedown
and Noel counters with a series of strikes. James will be more careful next time no doubt.

Noel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.

Noel breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Noel tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Noel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Noel tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Noel turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Noel manages to end up in side control.
Noel controlling the position from side mount.
Noel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Noel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
James looks to move to half guard but instead Noel has passed into mount! Damn!

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.
Noel looking to control and managing it successfully.
James is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James wants a takedown.
Noel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.

Noel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James has his takedown stuffed
letting Noel counter with a right hand.
Noel checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
James throws a leg kick but Noel checks it.
James looks to land a left hand but Noel moved out of range nicely.
James with a poor takedown
and Noel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jonah Noel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilson James.
Noel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches James on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a takedown
and Noel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James misses with a takedown
and Noel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps James thinking.

James moves into the clinch.
James fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Noel.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Noel to keep the fight standing.
James tries to pull guard but Noel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
James tries for a takedown but Noel manages to get underhooks.
James is breathing heavily.
James fails to pull guard.

Noel has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but James regains guard immediately.
Noel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonah Noel.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Noel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in but Noel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James shoots in but Noel avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Noel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Noel showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonah Noel.

James moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Noel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in James's guard.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noel is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonah Noel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James fails with the takedown
and Noel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James with a poor takedown
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Noel scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Noel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jonah Noel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilson James.
A head kick by James misses
and Noel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James throws a head kick that misses.

James moves into the clinch.
James wants to break free but Noel has control.
Noel is stalling here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Noel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Noel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Noel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Noel moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Noel decides to stand up, so the ref orders James to his feet.
James misses the shot to the body.
Noel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Noel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before James can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Noel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
James is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

James defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Noel.
Noel controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonah Noel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Noel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonah Noel!