PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frederic Haley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Haley
vs
James

198 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Frederic Haley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael James!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James shoots in and bounces Haley off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

James gets to his feet - Haley follows without any prompting.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Haley sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Haley wants to get back to full guard.
James lands with a punch from half guard.
James slips a nice elbow through Haley's hands, connecting with Haley's forehead.
James is trying to control. Haley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
James prevents Haley from improving his position.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
James prevents Haley from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley is positioning himself well to prevent James advancing to mount.
James drops an elbow to the side of Haley's head.
Haley is trying to get back to full guard.
James wants to pass the guard but Haley is defending well.
Haley works his way to full guard. Good work.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Haley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Haley looking for a sweep. Not yet Haley, not yet.
James's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James wants to control from the top but Haley keeps moving.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Haley.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Haley keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Haley sneaks back into half guard.
James trying to mount his opponent but Haley defends it.
Haley is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control from half guard but Haley is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Haley moves into full guard.
Haley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Haley being controlled here, momentarily.
Haley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James throws a strike but Haley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haley trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Haley controls the pace.
James pulls Haley in close to prevent any damage.
James has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Haley has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James tries to improve position but can't.
Haley controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Haley tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. James is in Haley's guard.
James won't allow Haley to sweep him here.
Haley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James wants to control from the top but Haley keeps moving.
Haley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James content to stall in guard here.
James stands up over Haley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Haley fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

James looking to score a takedown here. Haley is defending well but James drives through and ends up in Haley's guard.
James advances position into side control!
James working away.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Haley, who protects the arm well.
James tries to advance to mount but can't.
James lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controls the position.
James trying to control the action but Haley is working from the bottom.
Haley is looking to reverse the position.

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
James is breathing heavily.
Haley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Haley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on James's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
James trying to control the action but Haley is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Haley trying to control but James postures up.
Haley is looking to improve his position.
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Haley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haley is looking to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

James has closed the distance and engaged Haley in a clinch.

James jumps into guard, dragging Haley to the mat.
Michael James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haley throws a big right hand that misses.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Haley is controlling him.
Haley controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haley wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

Haley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Haley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

James darts in and clinches Haley up against the cage.

Haley pulls guard effortlessly.
Haley wants to sweep but no luck.
James wants to control from the top but Haley keeps moving.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haley wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Haley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Haley content to control rather than advance.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haley lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Haley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
James is looking to escape.

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.
Haley is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haley performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Haley is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ground and pound from Haley.
Frederic Haley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haley not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frederic Haley showed his dominance in that final round.
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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael James!