PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Knobber (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
Knobber

185 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kevin James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hugh Knobber!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knobber swivels and escapes.
Knobber swings away with a leg kick that misses.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Knobber tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Knobber to the ground. Knobber escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Knobber moves into the clinch successfully.
James can't get the takedown.

Knobber is trying to trip James. He has hold of a leg but James is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Knobber persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if James tries to get out of the position.
Knobber tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Knobber forces his way into half guard.
Knobber sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Knobber slips a nice elbow through James's hands, connecting with James's forehead.
Knobber scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Knobber bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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 is trying to control Knobber's posture but Knobber avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James prevents Knobber from moving into mount.
James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Knobber.
Knobber cracks James with a big right hand but James just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
James taking a bit of punishment here - Knobber scoring with strikes.
James is breathing heavily.
Knobber works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Knobber's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Knobber in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Knobber swings around for an armbar but James sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Knobber's guard.
Knobber wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Knobber is on top in guard.
Knobber distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to control.
Knobber lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Knobber from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knobber missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knobber slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Knobber gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Knobber looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Knobber.
Knobber scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knobber wants to stand up but James has a hold of him and won't allow it.
James trying to hold on to Knobber's head to control him but Knobber postures up.

Knobber stands up and beckons James to join him on the feet.
Knobber's corner calls for a 1-2. Knobber obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Knobber clinches with his opponent.

Knobber pulls guard.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James won't allow Knobber to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control but Knobber is working from the bottom.
James wants to stand but Knobber has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Knobber throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Knobber wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Knobber lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for James!
Knobber avoids the attempt from James to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knobber punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Knobber dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Knobber drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Knobber works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ground and pound from Knobber.
James tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Knobber lands with a punch from half guard.
Knobber trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
Knobber is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
James wants to sweep here but Knobber controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knobber forces his way into half guard.
Nice strikes from Knobber there.
James has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Knobber is working away from the top position though.
Knobber is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Knobber scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Knobber has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knobber working the head and body with strikes.
Knobber is taking a breather. James says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knobber slips a nice elbow through James's hands, connecting with James's forehead.
James is looking for a sweep. Knobber is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Knobber looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks James with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

It looks like Kevin James has been cut.

James actively working from the bottom here.
James has hold of Knobber's hands but Knobber slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Knobber wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
Knobber might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control James kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knobber is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Knobber decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Knobber darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Knobber has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Knobber has James pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Knobber pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending James tumbling to the mat - Knobber dives into James's guard.
Knobber tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
James controls Knobber momentarily but Knobber frees himself.
Knobber postures up and lands a big shot to James's brow.
Knobber with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knobber slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James taking some punishment here, with Knobber in his half guard.
James is not content to let Knobber control the position.
James looks like he's trying to stand up.
Knobber seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Knobber lands a nice short elbow.
Knobber working over James with some ground and pound. James looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
James has hold of Knobber's hands but Knobber slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knobber is nestled in close to James, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Knobber prevents James from improving his position.
Knobber working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Knobber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kevin James's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Knobber shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
James manages to get to full guard.

Knobber gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
James tries to move into range but Knobber moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Knobber gets the takedown into side control.

Knobber decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kevin James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Knobber scores with a takedown into James's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knobber postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knobber working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
Knobber working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knobber pushing down on James's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Knobber misses with a head shot. James uses the momentum to regain guard.
Knobber postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
Knobber pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Knobber working James over with strikes.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knobber missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knobber throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James keeping moving, preventing Knobber from controlling successfully.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knobber wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knobber shoots and misses

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knobber wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.
Knobber tries for a takedown but James manages to get underhooks.
Knobber wants to break free but James has control.
Knobber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knobber 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.
Kevin James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugh Knobber.

James has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Knobber clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Knobber covers up after that shot from James.
James is trying to stick to Knobber's back but Knobber is turning into James. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in James's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Knobber.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knobber with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knobber scoring with punches to the head and body.
James pulls Knobber in close to his closed guard and prevents Knobber from doing any damage or advancing position.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Knobber advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hugh Knobber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James is looking to improve his position.
Knobber performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
James is trying to stand up here but Knobber is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Knobber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knobber 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 James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugh Knobber!