PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Cave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tuesday's Gone. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cave
vs
James

184 cm
32
202 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

189 cm
32
206 lbs
19 - 17 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Cave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy James!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cave rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
James looks to land a left hand but Cave moved out of range nicely.
James has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Cave is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Cave is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cave looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cave walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cave moves out of range as James throws a body kick.
Cave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cave throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cave throws an off balance right hand
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cave tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from James! But no joy.
Cave tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nick Cave seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cave fails to land with a series of punches.
James is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cave with a body shot.
Nick Cave is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cave under the eye.
Cave throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James throws a lazy right hand but Cave sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cave uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
James throws a shot from downtown. Cave moves away and avoids it.
Cave jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cave doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
James throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cave is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but James has just dragged him back down to the mat.
James creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cave sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cave is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
James is working Cave over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.
James trying to control the position but Cave is working away.
Cave is trying to buck James off.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Cave taking a bit of punishment here - James scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cave pushes James away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, James gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James cracks Cave with a big right hand but Cave just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

James tries for a kimura but Cave is defending well.
James is looking to take a break and control but Cave is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James is working Cave over with some ground and pound from side control.
James trying to control the position but Cave is working away.
James working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
James cracks Cave with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cave takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
James connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cave some visible discomfort.
Cave wants to get back to his feet but James drags him back down.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James is looking to take a break and control but Cave is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cave on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
James scores with punches from side control.
James lands a decent elbow from side control.
James prevents Cave from escaping the position.
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!
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cave is avoiding damage well.
Cave is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, James asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cave connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cave pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cave misses with a body kick.
James tries a low kick but Cave avoids it.
Cave slips under a jab from James.
James misses with a body kick.
James throws a series of punches but Cave avoids them all with ease.
Cave throws an off balance right hand
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
Cave looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
James looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cave misses with a body kick.
And James tries to counter it with a takedown but Cave pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cave misses with a body shot.
Cave fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
James changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cave gets cracked there but stands up to it.
James slips a jab from Cave.
Cave takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cave tries a head kick but it misses.
Cave throws a predictable looking body shot
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Cave scores with the left hand. James knows he should have avoided that one.
Cave misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James staying out of range there.
Cave gets off balance looking for a body kick
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Cave backing up. Cave nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Cave throws a leg kick but James moved away.
James lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nick Cave is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cave throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Cave throws a sloppy head kick
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cave looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
James takes a swing at Cave's ribcage but misses.
James lands a head kick. Cave smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
James with the counter takedown but Cave avoids it easily.
Cave throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cave misses with a body kick.
James throws a counter combo.
James moves out of range as Cave throws a body kick.
James lands a right hook to the body.
Good work by James as he checks the leg kick.
James moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cave throws a sloppy head kick
and James counters with a nice body kick.
James misses with an uppercut. Cave saw that one coming.
Tommy James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cave misses with a wild body shot.
Cave misses with a telegraphed body shot
and James counters with a low kick, right behind Cave 's knee.
James misses with a hook.
Cave throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Cave backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Cave manages to avoid it all.
No joy there for Cave, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cave misses with a looping right.
Cave misses with a hook.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by James.
James tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cave is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James blocks a head kick by Cave.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Cave.
James jabs Cave right on the nose. Cave blinks but takes it well.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
Cave seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cave misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cave looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Cave does it's job there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cave's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cave misses with a lunging right hand
and James counters with a leg kick.
Cave on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A leg kick checked by James.
James is looking for the big counter here.
Cave misses with a left hand
and James counters with a leg kick.
Cave lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cave moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cave ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
James scores with a hook to the body. Cave takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick there by Cave.
Cave checks a leg kick nicely.
Cave tries to counter by moving into the clinch but James manages to circle out of the way.
James on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from James misses.
James swings for the body but Cave moves out of range.
Cave slips a straight right by James.
Cave comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from James lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cave has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cave and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
James tries a head kick but it misses.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James avoids a kick to the body.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cave.
Cave throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James tries to bum rush Cave with a series of wild strikes but Cave uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Cave.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James lands a two punch combo.
Cave scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
James misses the shot to the body.
Cave uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before James has time to react.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cave.
James connects with a nice looking jab.
James throws a hook but Cave avoids it easily.
James connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cave. Cave circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by James there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
James throws a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Cave does no damage.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cave throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cave misses with a body punch
and James counters with a two punch combo.
Cave is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by James.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cave will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cave takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cave misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James misses the shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cave.
Cave seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A solid body kick from Cave.
Cave misses with the combination.
Nick Cave has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A looping hook to the body misses from Cave. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James lands with a shot to the body.
Cave throws a head kick that misses.
Cave takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Cave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tommy James.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy James!
As Tommy James got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: I want to thank all you fans for coming out tonight, Fury for helping me be strong, Modern Wear Apparel for making me look so good, the gang at Montreal Fighter's Gym, all of my loved ones back home, and Kyle F for letting me fight here in the HMFL!! Thank you!!'.