PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Teddy Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilson James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Craig
vs
James

169 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Teddy Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilson James!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches James napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Craig looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Craig controlling the position from side mount.
Craig advances to full mount.
Craig working the ground and pound effectively.

Craig is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Craig has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James shoots in for a double leg but Craig sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Craig takes the fight into the clinch.

Craig manages to break the clinch.

Craig gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James jumps guard but Craig turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
James looks winded!
Craig has James pressed against the cage.

Craig manages to break the clinch.
Craig avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James dives in and grabs Craig's left leg, looking for a takedown. Craig pushes down on James's head and hops out.
Teddy Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilson James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craig takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Craig.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Craig gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
Craig has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Craig manages to break the clinch.

Craig 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craig 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.

Craig decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craig darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James pushes Craig off looking to stand but Craig dives back in and keeps control.

Craig is looking for a kimura here.
Craig stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig is working for a kimura but James is defending it quite comfortably.
Craig trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Craig is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Craig dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Craig moves into range and clinches up with James.
James tries to pull guard but Craig holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.
Craig gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
James wants to take the fight to the mat but Craig manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Teddy Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilson James.
James can't get the takedown.

Craig manages to break the clinch.

Craig shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Craig wants to work for an arm triangle but James is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Craig decides to stand up.
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into James's guard.
James has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA London. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
James being controlled here, momentarily.

Craig decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on James, up you get!

Craig closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Craig lands in his opponent's guard.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Craig stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Craig rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Craig.

Craig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gilson James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James moves in looking to clinch but Craig pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James misses with the combination.
James fails with a takedown attempt.

Craig scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Craig decides to stand back up.

Craig clinches up against the cage.

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

Craig closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Craig - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Craig closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Craig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Craig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

James is working an open guard so Craig takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

James gets caught flat footed, as Craig shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Craig dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

James shoots and misses

and Craig counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Craig moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Craig decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Craig shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Craig was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Craig working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Craig stands up and beckons James to his feet.

Craig gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Craig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Craig circles away.

Craig shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Craig showed some decent athleticism there.

Craig stands up out of the half guard.

Craig 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.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Craig engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

James isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Craig stacks James on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Craig!
Teddy Craig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Craig politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Craig prefers to stall for the moment though.

Craig decides to stand up, so the ref orders James to his feet.

Craig clinches up against the cage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

James breaks the clinch.
Gilson James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Craig rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Craig holding his opponent close, against the cage.

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

Craig has managed to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is trying to stall.
Gilson James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Teddy Craig is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Craig avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teddy Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craig 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teddy Craig!