PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Joyce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Joyce will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

French
vs
Joyce

176 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

190 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Joyce!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joyce fails with a takedown attempt.

French has managed to clinch.
French drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joyce gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joyce stalling in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. French obliges.
Joyce is stalling here.
French stops a takedown attempt from Joyce.

Joyce successfully pulls guard.
Joyce is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Joyce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. French defends it easily.
French could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Joyce trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French preventing the sweep.
Joyce working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from French.
French throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
French prevents Joyce from getting back to his feet.
French postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joyce lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for French!
Joyce controlling the pace for now.
Joyce looking to ground and pound but French is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyce can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as French is looking to escape.
Joyce scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish French?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish French?
French has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Joyce's lack of action.
French is trying to get back to full guard.
Joyce not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Joyce seems to be looking for submissions.
Joyce prevents French from improving his position.
French might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Joyce wants to pass to mount but French is defending the position.
Joyce not doing much here.
Joyce wants to control but French is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
French is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Joyce dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

French stuffs the takedown.

Joyce instigates a clinch.
Joyce is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Joyce taking a breather.
Joyce tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. French just stands there and leans against the cage.
French wants a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
French stalling in the clinch.
Joyce is trying to work for a single leg takedown but French pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Samuel French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Joyce.

French escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joyce fails with the takedown
letting French counter with a right hand.
Samuel French is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce fakes high and swings low for a body shot but French manages to avoid it.
Joyce doesn't succeed with the takedown

and French counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
French is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Joyce takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

French pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joyce fails with a takedown attempt.
Joyce thuds a left hand into French's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joyce closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into French's guard.

Joyce stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Joyce lands a head kick. French smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Joyce is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joyce shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has French pinned against the cage. French gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A head kick from Joyce lands but French takes it in his stride.
James Joyce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
French dodges the punch combination from Joyce.
Joyce showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from French.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce with a lazy takedown attempt
and French counters with a series of strikes. Joyce will be more careful next time no doubt.

Joyce moves into the clinch successfully.
French is trying to drag Joyce to the mat but Joyce just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
French tries to land knees in the clinch but Joyce avoids the damage to the body.

Joyce pulls French into guard.
Joyce wants to sweep here but French controlling him for the moment.

Joyce has his feet on French's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Joyce with a poor takedown

and French counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from French - that landed with a thud.
Joyce stalling in the clinch.
French tries to break free but Joyce pushes him back against the cage.
French is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
French looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Joyce pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
French leaves Joyce with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
French takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
French avoids a punch combination nicely.
Joyce shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. French defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Joyce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Joyce scores with a punch to the head.
Joyce shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says French as he avoids it easily.
Joyce dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joyce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? French is fending him off so far but Joyce persists. Nope, French circles away and we're back to standing.

French has managed to clinch.
French goes for a takedown attempt but Joyce pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Joyce shoots for a double leg takedown but French sprawls well. He's pushed Joyce's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Samuel French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Joyce.
Joyce takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Joyce.
Joyce fails with the takedown

and French counters by moving into the clinch.
Joyce prevents the takedown attempt.

French pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joyce doesn't succeed with the takedown
and French counters with a body kick that stops Joyce in his tracks momentarily.
Joyce swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

French instigates a clinch.
French wants to take the fight to the mat but Joyce manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Joyce looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
French can't get the takedown.

Joyce jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joyce manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. French manages to get himself to full guard.
Joyce slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as French holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Joyce trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James Joyce has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Joyce throws a nice head kick!
Joyce fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

French tries to keep at a distance but Joyce has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joyce has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. French is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French goes for a takedown in the clinch but Joyce prevents it.
French looking for a takedown.
Joyce can't get the takedown.
Joyce has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. French is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
French is trying to break the clinch but Joyce is controlling him.
Joyce jumps guard but French turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Joyce manages to break the clinch.
Joyce tries for a takedown but French sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joyce fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but French avoids it really well and circles away.
Samuel French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Joyce is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
French feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Joyces jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

And that's the end of the fight!
James Joyce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Joyce 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Joyce!