PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jewell Witt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Des James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Engine no 9 as his entrance music. Des James told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Witt
vs
James

194 cm
20
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jewell Witt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Des James!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
James looks to land a strike but Witt avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Witt keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James wants to control from the top but Witt keeps moving.
Witt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witt doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Witt trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Witt looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
Witt has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.
Witt throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Witt can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

James seems to be looking for submissions.
Witt wants to get back to his feet.

James decides to return to a standing position.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
Witt is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James pulls him back up using the underhooks.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Witt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Witt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

James is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Witt defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is trying to keep Witt in close.

Witt is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Witt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Witt drops back looking for a leg! James is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and James manages to kick Witt off! Witt jumps back into James's guard.
James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Witt wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Des James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Witt tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.
James is keen to just control but Witt is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witt wants to get back to his feet.
James not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James blocks the strikes from Witt.
Witt regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from James.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Witt has wrist control.
James wants to control from the top but Witt keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Witt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Witt pulls James in to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
James wants to clinch
and Witt counters with a left to the body.
Witt misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for James. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Witt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from James does no damage.
Witt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James throws out a counter right but Witt avoids it with no problem.
Jewell Witt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Witt is controlling James's posture.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witt regains half guard there - taking advantage of James's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Witt gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Witt is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.

Witt has one foot on James's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
James tries to clinch but Witt moves out of range.
Witt throws a big counter combination but James scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James tries to clinch but Witt is having none of it.

Witt gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Des James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Witt napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Witt struggling a bit here.
James gets to mount! Witt was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
James avoids the attempt from Witt to control.
Witt sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witt is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Witt has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but James is on him like a limpet, forcing Witt back against the cage.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James throws a series of punches but Witt moves out of range.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James throws a series of punches but Witt avoids them all with ease.
As James tries to get set, Witt tries to push him back and clinch up but James manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Witt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Witt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
James is trying to ground and pound but Witt uses the momentary lack of control by James to regain half guard.
James with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Witt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Witt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to pass the guard.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Witt is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Witt tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.
James is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
James seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Witt is holding on tight.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Witt is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Witt is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Des James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30

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