PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eugene Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen iPhone - Ringtone (MetroGnome Remix) as his entrance music. 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.

Washington
vs
James

181 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eugene Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Washington showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.

James shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Washington manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Washington has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Washington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Washington throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
Washington could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Washington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Washington gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

James pulls guard.

Washington stands up from James's guard - Washington perhaps looking for a knockout.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Washington napping and manages to drive through into side control!
James creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Washington sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Washington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Washington is avoiding damage well.
Washington striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James decides to stand back up.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
Washington dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Washington's head and hops out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James misses with a body kick.
James feints a jab promting Washington to slip. James then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Washington slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

James has managed to clinch.
Washington trying to stall but James improves his position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from James.
Washington with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
Washington shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Washington's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugene Washington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Washington shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
James misses with the combination.
James throws a series of punches but Washington moves out of range.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Washington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Washington avoids the head kick by James.
James's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and James duly obliges.
James looks winded!
James throws a series of punches but Washington moves out of range.

James rushes Washington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Washington breaks from the clinch.
James throws a series of punches but Washington avoids them all with ease.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Washington counters with a two punch combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Washington is just out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

James throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Washington tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. James is in Washington's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Washington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eugene Washington's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Washington counters with a head kick. That will keep James thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jesse James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Washington shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.

James has Washington up against the cage in a clinch.
Washington with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Washington stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Washington goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
James feints a jab promting Washington to slip. James then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Washington slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Washington gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

James drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Washington dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Washington gets to his feet. James looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
James is breathing heavily.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Washington is proving hard to escape from.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James won't allow Washington to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Washington is on top in guard.

Washington gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a nice looking combination but Washington bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Washington circles away quickly and effectively.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Washington is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on James's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Washington works his way to full guard. Good work.
Washington wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Washington wants to sweep but no luck.
James trying to control but Washington is working from the bottom.
Washington bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
James wants to get back to his feet but Washington is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Washington stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washington throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James leaves Washington with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eugene Washington will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eugene Washington's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Washington with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James is trying to break the clinch but Washington has him pressed against the cage.
Washington is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.
Washington prevents James from breaking the clinch.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
James is trying to force a seperation but Washington has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington throws a knee to the head but misses.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
James wants to break free but Washington has control.

Washington breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Washington with that takedown attempt.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Washington tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
James tries to break the clinch but Washington is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
James tries to circle away but Washington has him pinned against the cage.
Washington has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugene Washington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Washington is trying to pull guard but James turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Washington backwards.
Washington has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James tries to break free but Washington pushes him back against the cage.
Washington prevents James from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Washington manages to break the clinch.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Washington to counter with a crisp jab.
Washington throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James avoids the head kick by Washington.
James cracks Washington with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Washington takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

James clinches up against the cage.
Washington tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Washington drops back down to his feet.
Washington can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James manages to pull guard.
Washington is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Washington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Washington has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James wants to break free but Washington has control.
James tries to break the clinch but Washington is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse James!
A very excited looking Jesse James rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.