PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Pontius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick James could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Michal Pontius's chin.

James
vs
Pontius

180 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michal Pontius!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pontius 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 with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pontius, pushing him back against the cage.
Pontius is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.

Pontius works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Pontius looking to pass the guard.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pontius throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James seems keen to control Pontius's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Pontius closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. James quickly recovers to half guard.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pontius.
James is trying to maintain the position but Pontius is very close to passing his half guard.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pontius throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing James to regain full guard.
Pontius trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pontius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pontius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pontius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pontius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Michal Pontius has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
James gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
James lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rick James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Pontius.
Pontius is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pontius looks winded!
Pontius can't get the takedown.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
James lands an elbow inside that Pontius shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That has opened up Michal Pontius's cut even more.
Pontius wants a takedown.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
James lands a damaging elbow.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
James lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
Pontius takes an elbow to the forehead.

The cut above Michal Pontius's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
Pontius takes an elbow to the temple.

Pontius is rocked!
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Pontius is still on wobbly legs! Can James finish him?
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pontius blocks an elbow strike from James.
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James throws an elbow but it misses.
James throws an elbow that misses.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
James misses with an elbow strike.
James misses with an elbow strike.
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
James throws an elbow but it misses.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Pontius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James throws an elbow that misses.
James pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
James pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
James misses with an elbow strike.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
James throws an elbow but it misses.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
James misses with an elbow strike.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with an elbow strike.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pontius's brow.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Pontius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
James throws an elbow that misses.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Pontius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pontius dodges an elbow strike from James.
Pontius avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
Pontius blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
James throws an elbow but it misses.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
James throws an elbow that misses.
Pontius dodges an elbow strike from James.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Pontius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pontius's brow.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pontius blocks an elbow strike.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
Pontius dodges an elbow strike from James.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
Pontius dodges an elbow strike from James.
Pontius avoids a wild elbow strike from James.
James prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pontius dodges an elbow strike from James.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Pontius leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Pontius seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
James lands an elbow that stopped Pontius in his tracks for a moment.

Michal Pontius's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michal Pontius's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James lands an elbow just above Pontius 's eye.
Pontius is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pontius can do to turn this around?
Pontius drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
James misses with an elbow strike.
James throws an elbow that misses.
James throws an elbow that misses.
Clinched against the cage, James lands a big elbow that drops Pontius! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Pontius is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rick James!
Our winner, Rick James, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.