PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Irvin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Rush has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Irvin
vs
Rush

188 cm
25
212 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
201 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Irvin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Rush!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rush shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rush keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rush lands with a punch from half guard.
Rush trying to control the action but Irvin is working from the bottom.
Rush throwing shots but Irvin is blocking nicely.
Rush trying to control from half guard but Irvin is working away.
Rush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Irvin's head.
Still in half guard, Rush seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush is stalling here. Irvin is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rush seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Irvin has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rush manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Irvin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.
Irvin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.
Ground and pound from Rush.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rush drops an elbow to the side of Irvin's head.
Rush missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush working the head and body with strikes.
Rush throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Irvin to regain full guard.
Rush with a flurry of punches that miss.
Irvin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Irvin tries to get out of the position.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rush accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Irvin has momentary wrist control but Rush slips an elbow through the middle.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rush in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rush working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Irvin is looking to stand up but Rush isn't so interested in that idea.
Irvin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Irvin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rush wants to pass the guard but Irvin is keeping the position.
Rush postures up in Irvin's guard and throws a big left but Irvin blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rush throws an elbow that misses. Irvin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rush's guard. Nice move by Irvin!
Rush is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Irvin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

James Irvin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Irvin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rush circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Irvin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Irvin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Rush dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Irvin moves away from the strike by Rush.

Rush tries to keep at a distance but Irvin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Irvin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rush blocks it with crossed arms.
Irvin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rush blocks it with crossed arms.
Irvin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Irvin working Rush over with knees to the body.
Rush is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Irvin is defending well for now.
Irvin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rush avoids it.
Irvin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rush in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irvin looking to slow down the pace here.
Knees to the body from Irvin.
Irvin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Irvin tries a knee to the head but Rush blocks it.
Rush is breathing heavily.
Irvin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rush lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Irvin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Irvin.
Irvin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Irvin taking a breather.
Irvin lands a nice knee to the body.
Irvin stalls.
Rush tries to land knees in the clinch but Irvin avoids the damage to the body.
Rush on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irvin lands a knee to the body.
Rush has Irvin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Irvin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Irvin lands a knee to the head.
Rush tries for a takedown but Irvin manages to get underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Irvin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvin scores a nice knee to the body.
Irvin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Irvin.
A knee to the head by Irvin.
Irvin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rush's face.
Irvin tries a knee to the head but Rush blocks it.
Irvin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Irvin.
Irvin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rush won't want to take too many of those.
Irvin lands a knee to the head.
Irvin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Irvin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rush's face.
Irvin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Irvin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Irvin connects with a knee to the head.
Irvin tries to land a knee to the head but Rush blocks with his arms.
Irvin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rush won't want to take too many of those.
Irvin slowing the pace effectively.
Rush takes a knee right on the jaw!
Irvin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irvin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Irvin.
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!
Irvin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rush won't want to take too many of those.
Irvin stalling the fight.
Rush's coach down at SWF GYM - JUDO 'n' MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rush's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Irvin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Irvin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rush in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Irvin connects with a knee to the head.
Irvin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irvin lands a knee to the body.
Irvin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Irvin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Irvin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rush lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Irvin.
Irvin gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Irvin working Rush over with knees to the body.
Irvin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Irvin is trying to maintain a safe position but Rush gets an underhook and turns Irvin into the cage.
Irvin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Irvin landing knees to the body.
Irvin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Irvin is looking to control Rush's arms but Rush gets an underhook and turns him. Now Irvin has his back to the cage.
Irvin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rush won't want to take too many of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Irvin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rush circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rush connects with the punch.
Rush goes for a double leg but Irvin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Irvin continues to drive forward.
Rush creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice left hand lands by Rush.
Irvin lands a knee to the body.
Irvin connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like James Rush has been cut.
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!
Knees in the clinch landing for Irvin.
Rush takes a knee right on the jaw!
Irvin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rush lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Irvin landing knees to the body.
Rush takes a knee right on the jaw!
Irvin scores a nice knee to the body.
Irvin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Irvin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rush is rocked!
Irvin working Rush over with knees to the body.
Rush is still on wobbly legs! Can Irvin finish him?
Rush goes for a takedown attempt but Irvin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rush seems to have recovered his senses.

Rush tries to keep at a distance but Irvin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Irvin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Irvin drops Rush with a big knee straight up the middle! Rush is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Irvin throws a front kick that sends Rush stumbling back into the cage.
Irvin tries to clinch but Rush moves out of range.
Rush avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rush connects with a body shot that sends Irvin's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Irvin clinches up against the cage.
Irvin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Irvin crunches a lovely knee into Rush's ribcage.
Rush on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irvin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Irvin scores with a knee to the head.
Irvin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Irvin.
Irvin with a knee to the head.
Irvin lands a knee to the head.
Irvin working the clinch nicely. Rush is working for position but Irvin cracks him with a big knee to the head! Rush crumples up against the cage and Irvin lands two more shots before the ref can save Rush! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). James Irvin!
A victorious James Irvin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.