PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oberyn Martell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Martell
vs
James

184 cm
32
183 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

179 cm
33
183 lbs
21 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oberyn Martell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James avoids a kick to the body.
James has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Martell is landing a low percentage of strikes.
A punch combination from James misses.
Martell throws out a powerful jab.
James misses with a head kick.
Martell avoids a kick to the body.
Martell blocks a head kick by James.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martell sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from James.
Martell scores with a spinning back kick!
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
James feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Martells jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Martell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martell missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell lands a body shot.
James throws a head kick that misses.
Martell throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Martell throws a leg kick
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James stalks Martell and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Martell's face. Martell staggers backwards, shaken.
Martell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from James.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It seemed like James was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
James is looking to clinch.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James misses with a kick to the body.
A quick step to the side and Martell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've been told by Martell's head coaches at Rancid Fight Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
James throws an off balance right hand
and Martell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Martell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James moves out of range as Martell throws a body kick.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James misses with a low kick.
Martell throws a quick counter head kick but James was just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws out a powerful jab.
Martell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Martell. James shrugs it off though.
A bone on bone clash there as Martell blocks the leg kick.
Rick James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James blocks the body kick.
James looks to land a combination but Martell avoids it well.
Martell blocks a head kick by James.
Martell does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Martell throws a lazy uppercut
and James counters with a right hand to the body.
Martell throws a hook but James blocks it.
And James responds with a good body kick, but Martell manages to step out the way in time.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Martell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martell uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Martell connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Martell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James punishes Martell's body with a nice straight punch.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martell.
James looks to throw a body kick
and Martell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

James tries to keep at a distance but Martell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Martell is trying to force a seperation but James has the dominant position.
James trying to control the position but instead, Martell has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
Martell misses with a punch to the body.
Martell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Martell dodges an elbow strike from James.
Martell throws an elbow but it misses.
James blocking some punches.
Martell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
James throws an elbow that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Martell.
James lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martell tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
James scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Martell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from James on the inside.
Martell misses with the head strike.
James stalling the fight.
Martell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James landing knees to the body.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Martell makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Martell unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
James blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Martell can't break the clinch.
James digs a right hand underneath Martell's ribcage. Martell let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Martell blocks with his arms.
James lands a good knee to the midsection. Martell won't want to take too many of those.
James lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Martell backwards.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Martell avoids the damage to the body.
A short body shot lands from James as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick James will probably get the nod.
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.

James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Martell lands a glancing blow to the side of James's head.
Rick James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James moves away from the strike by Martell.
James wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Martell moves out of range as James throws a body kick.
James looks to land a combination but Martell avoids it well.
Martell doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James misses with a double jab
and Martell makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. James really felt that one!
James tries to clinch there but Martell circles away.
Martell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martell was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A swing and a miss from Martell.
James wants to land a leg kick but Martell is out of range.
James chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Martell slips a jab and a cross from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell scores with a shot to the body.
Martell has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Martell there as he acknowledges the shot.
Martell misses with a right hand
and James counters with a right hand to the body.
Good work by James as he checks the leg kick.
Martell throws a leg kick but James sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Martell moves out of range as James strikes.
Martell jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
James cracks Martell with a right hand to the side of the head.
A big right from Martell misses.
Martell throws a lazy uppercut
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Martell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Martell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James throws out a counter right but Martell avoids it with no problem.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
James lands a right hook to the body.
James staying out of range there.
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!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from James, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James landing knees to the head.
Martell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
James tries a knee to the head but Martell blocks it.
James pressing his opponent against the cage.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Martell misses with an elbow over the top.
James lands a nice uppercut.
James lands a shot to the body.
Martell blocks an uppercut.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Martell tries to tie him up.
Martell lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell misses with the head strike.
Martell lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
James gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
James misses with a knee to the head.
Martell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Martell 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.
Martell connects with a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Martell.
James scores with a shoulder strike.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Martell tries a body shot but James blocks it.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martell takes a shot to the head.
Martell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Martell as James tries to tie him up.
James missing with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from James.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martell lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
Rick James seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martell 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.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Martell throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
Martell lands a left hand.
James is trying to maintain a safe position but Martell gets an underhook and turns James into the cage.
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Martell takes a shot to the head.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Martell just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Martell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martell lands an elbow inside.
Martell lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Martell stalling against the cage.
James lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Martell backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martell throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
James misses with a looping left.
Martell ducks under a wild hook from James.
A right-left combo lands from James.
James throws a series of punches but Martell moves out of range.
Martell moves out of range as James strikes.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martell.
Martell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
James tries to work over Martell's front leg with a kick but Martell checks it.
Martell tried to counter with a leg kick but James avoided it.
James throws the left hand but Martell avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from James does it's job there.
Martell cracks a nice hook into James's ribs.
Martell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martell moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Martell moves out of range of the body kick.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Martell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Martell. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Martell avoids the head kick by James.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
James misses with a lunging right hand
and Martell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Martell does a little dance to reset his feet.
James takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Martell with a nice cross.
A nice inside leg kick there by Martell. That's going to slow James down.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martell sees it coming and avoids it easily.
James throws a series of strikes that have Martell backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martell tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Martell.
James tries to clinch
and Martell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martell.
A little jabbing left from James on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! James crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Martell - the referee stops the clock and James gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Martell. James manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
James misses with a left hand
and Martell counters with an inside leg kick.
James gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Martell counters with a two punch combo.
Martell slips under a jab.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martell takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
James throws a right hand that Martell ducks under and follows up with a left that Martell also avoids with ease.
James tries to clinch up but Martell circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martell lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Martell lands with an overhand left.
James throws a low kick, looking for Martell's leg but Martell calmly moves out of range.
James waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Martell.
James looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
James with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Martell lands with a shot to the body.
Martell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Martell misses with a body shot.
James throws a fast counter high kick but Martell manages to duck under it in time.
James keeps Martell at a distance using the push kick.
Martell throws a hook but James blocks it.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martell.
Martell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A shot to the body from James misses
and Martell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps James thinking.
James ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Oberyn Martell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Martell to score with a decent uppercut.
Martell scores with a push kick.
Rick James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Martell tries to score with a low kick but James moves his leg out of the way.
James misses with an attempted mid kick.
Martell half committed to a counter leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Martell.
James tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Martell is able to avoid easily.
James swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Martell.
James wants to clinch but Martell slips to the side
and Martell counters with a slapping leg kick.
James tries to clinch but Martell is having none of it.
James lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rick James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Martell finds it's way round the side to connect with James's head.
Donk. James catches Martell right on the button with a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Oberyn Martell.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick James!
Rick James decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Oberyn Martell spoke after the fight, saying 'Through adversity we triumph. Can't know the glory of Success without failure.'.