PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karim Ahmat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Ahmat

210 cm
23
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Karim Ahmat!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahmat lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.

Ahmat has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James is trying to push Ahmat away but Ahmat has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Ahmat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ahmat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ahmat is defended easily by James.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ahmat but Ahmat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ahmat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ahmat fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ahmat fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karim Ahmat.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Ahmat, looking for a takedown. James pushes Ahmat against the cage but Ahmat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James moves in looking to clinch but Ahmat pushes him off.

Ahmat moves into the clinch.

Ahmat breaks the clinch.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Ahmat sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James fails to land the takedown.
Ahmat closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Ahmat pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ahmat tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Ahmat circles away.

Ahmat takes the fight into the clinch.
Ahmat unloads a knee to the mid-section.
James is breathing heavily.
Ahmat's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
James tries to pull guard but Ahmat won't allow it.

Ahmat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ahmat shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as James blocks the leg kick.
Ahmat shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ahmat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James throws a quick counter head kick but Ahmat was just out of range.
Ahmat fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Ahmat forces James back against the cage and clinches.
James tries to pull guard but Ahmat holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ahmat pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ahmat changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Ahmat manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ahmat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ahmat manages to avoid it.
Ahmat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahmat on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
James tries to clinch but Ahmat is having none of it.

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

James is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ahmat presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James is trying to pull guard but Ahmat has him pressed against the cage.

Ahmat manages to break the clinch.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ahmat sprawls well. Ahmat wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karim Ahmat dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ahmat gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
Ahmat changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ahmat closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Ahmat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahmat.
Ahmat is looking to clinch.
James avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Ahmat instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James gets control of Ahmat's arms and successfully pulls guard. James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ahmat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

James looking for a triangle here. Ahmat is fighting it but it looks tight! James pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ahmat is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Josh James!