PBP Commentary

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

James
vs
McCracken

188 cm
19
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
24
212 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Soul Supremacy Nutrition (90% laundry)

Project Mayhem

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Corey McCracken!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from James misses.
A punch combination from James misses.
McCracken wants to clinch

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

McCracken pulls guard successfully.
James content to stall in guard here.
We've been hearing good reports from James's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
McCracken working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McCracken tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters by clinching up.
McCracken tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McCracken is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.
McCracken is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
McCracken is looking to take this one to the mat.

James manages to pull guard.
James looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

James scrambles and gets back to his feet.

James gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McCracken will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
McCracken tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
McCracken tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
James staying calm.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James throws a push kick but McCracken slaps the foot to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McCracken doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James throws the kick towards the body but McCracken avoids it.
James throws a series of punches but McCracken moves out of range.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McCracken fights it off and pushes away nicely.

McCracken closes the distance and clinches.
McCracken using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McCracken is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.
McCracken fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCracken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alex James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Corey McCracken.
McCracken unloads a knee to the mid-section.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCracken fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McCracken is looking to break free of the clinch but James has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James is pressed up against the cage. McCracken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McCracken wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from James misses.
McCracken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McCracken fails with a takedown attempt.
James scores with a jab. McCracken acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
James throws a series of punches but McCracken avoids them all with ease.
McCracken tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and James counters with a two punch combo.
McCracken tries to clinch up
and James counters with a three punch combo that has McCracken backing up. McCracken nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

McCracken decides to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James prevents McCracken from getting back to his feet.
James showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McCracken wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCracken can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James has gone for a leg lock! McCracken slips out almost immediately though and dives into James's guard.

McCracken loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but James puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McCracken trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James 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. 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.

McCracken moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McCracken tries to clinch up.
McCracken moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by McCracken.
McCracken tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCracken tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCracken tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCracken moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
McCracken tries to clinch but James moves away
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
McCracken wants to clinch
and James counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
James stalks McCracken and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McCracken's face. McCracken staggers backwards, shaken.
James circles away from the clinch attempt

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. McCracken won't be happy with that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken is letting James control him for a moment.
McCracken is looking for a sweep.
James taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCracken pinned against the cage. McCracken gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken darts in trying to clinch
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McCracken tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.

James clinches with his opponent.
Knees in the clinch landing for McCracken.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCracken drops down looking for an ankle pick but James pulls his leg out and moves away.
Alex James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Corey McCracken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
McCracken keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCracken looks to clinch

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McCracken wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.

James successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McCracken throwing strikes but missing.
McCracken throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
McCracken throws a big right hand that misses.

James has his feet on McCracken's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
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!
McCracken fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McCracken is looking to clinch.
Alex James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCracken walks into a stiff left hand from James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex James!
Our winner, Alex James, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.