PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kelvin Muis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muis is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Het Land Van. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Muis

206 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricardo James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kelvin Muis!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Muis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Muis throws a lazy head kick

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Muis's brow.

Muis is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Muis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Ricardo James has been cut.

Muis clinches up against the cage.
James fails to pull guard.
Muis looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James fails to pull guard.
Muis scores with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Muis misses with a knee to the head.
Muis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Muis misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muis lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Muis is trying to break the clinch but James is controlling him.
Muis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Muis looks winded!

James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Muis throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as James holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muis stopping the sweep attempt from James.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Muis.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muis throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kelvin Muis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Muis.
Muis misses with a few strikes there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Muis enables James to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Muis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
James with a nice head shot there.

James stands and steps away. Muis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Muis drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muis looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muis throws a knee to the head but misses.
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Muis walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Muis throws a head kick that misses

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Muis wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
James landing with the ground and pound.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James landing some decent shots from guard.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
James could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Muis has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James prevents Muis from getting back to his feet.
James working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Muis tries a head kick but it misses.

James clinches up against the cage.

James jumps guard and drags Muis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James controlling Muis's posture.
Muis wants to stand and escape but instead James has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

James is working Muis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James scoring with punches to the head and body.
James landing with the ground and pound.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Muis's brow.
James prevents Muis from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricardo James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo James's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Muis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Muis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!
Muis tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Muis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Muis lands a damaging elbow.
James keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Muis's efforts to push away.
Muis lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.
Muis looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Muis is breathing heavily.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nice elbow from Muis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kelvin Muis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Muis wants to break free but James has control.
Muis throws a knee to the head but misses.

James jumps guard.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

James working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
James working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
James working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

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

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Muis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Check out the look on James's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
James scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James scoring with punches from side control.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
James scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Muis to see if he's OK.
James lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders Muis to his feet.

Muis pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.
Muis misses with a knee to the head.
Muis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

James decides to pull guard.
James pulls Muis in close to prevent any damage.
Muis throwing strikes but missing.
Ricardo James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muis trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Muis throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muis throws a strike but James rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

James gets to his feet - Muis follows without any prompting.
Muis throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from James does no damage.
Muis pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Muis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
James is trying to break the clinch but Muis is controlling him.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Muis to keep the fight standing.
Muis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muis tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
Muis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

James jumps guard.
James controlling Muis's posture.
James working a defensive guard here.
Muis wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Muis throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricardo James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo James's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James avoids the head kick by Muis.
Muis lands with a slapping head kick.

Muis rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James jumps guard but Muis stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Muis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.

James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

James pushes Muis off and gets back to his feet.
James shoots in and drives through. Muis sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muis throws a right and a left that both miss.

Muis darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Muis misses with an elbow over the top.
Muis pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to pull guard but Muis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muis creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.

Ricardo James's cut is getting worse.
Muis connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Muis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Muis working hard to break the clinch.
Muis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Muis with an attempt at a knee that misses.

James jumps guard.
Muis throws a strike but James rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Muis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
Muis has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James stops Muis from standing up.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Muis wants to stand but James is controlling the position.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Muis lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James tries to keep at a distance but Muis has taken the fight into the clinch.
James is trying to pull guard but Muis has him pressed against the cage.
Muis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Muis tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muis misses with a head kick.
Muis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

James clinches up against the cage.
Muis is trying to break the clinch but James has him pressed against the cage.

James pulls guard.
Muis won't allow James to sweep him here.
Muis throwing strikes but missing.
James pulls Muis in close to his closed guard and prevents Muis from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Muis wants to stand and escape but instead James has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James distracts Muis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James connects with a couple of short punches.
Muis is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James lands a couple of elbows.
Kelvin Muis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Muis has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricardo James.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

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