PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Werner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Werner
vs
King

187 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Werner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jimmy King!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Werner changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. King looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Werner tries to stand but King controls the position and pulls Werner into his guard.

Werner drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Werner off! Werner jumps back into King's guard.
Werner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for King on the ground.
King trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Our spies down at at HFC Training Center inform us that King has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Werner trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Werner trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Werner manages to get himself to full guard.

King decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Werner loads up on a big right hand but King slips the punch.
King moves out of range of the body kick.
King misses with a head kick.
King blocks a head kick by Werner.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Werner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Werner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werner goes for a double leg but King avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as King continues to drive forward.
Werner wants to clinch.
Werner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King tries to avoid it but Werner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King to the ground. King escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Werner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

King scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King not doing much here.
King wants to stand but Werner has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Werner is pressing down on King's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werner trying to control the position.
King is looking to stand up but Werner won't let him.

Werner is working an open guard so King takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
King dives in for a single leg takedown but Werner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Werner throws a combination. King tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
King fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Werner avoids it really well and circles away.
Werner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Werner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but King avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Werner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
King is looking for a sweep. Werner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Werner wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy King will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Werner with a lazy takedown attempt

and King counters by moving into the clinch.
Werner gets underhooks to prevent King's takedown attempt.
Werner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but King is keeping busy.
King jumps guard but Werner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Werner controlling the action here for a moment.
King tries to pull guard but Werner holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.
James Werner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy King.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

King breaks from the clinch.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A counter left hand to the body from Werner misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Werner gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Werner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Werner wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Werner rushes King and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

King jumps guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as King holds on and takes a little breather.
Werner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of King is proving hard to escape from.
Werner connects with a couple of short punches.

King is looking for a triangle but Werner pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werner trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Werner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Werner tries to stand but King is controlling from the bottom.
Werner trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Werner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Werner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. King swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Werner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of King is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Werner gets to his feet - King follows without any prompting.
King tries to clinch but Werner moves out of range.
King wants to clinch.
King stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and King wants it to stay on the feet.
King throws a right and a left that Werner avoids nicely.
Werner is looking for a counter combo.
Werner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King misses with a two punch combination.

Werner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. King did well to prevent Werner getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is controlling Werner's trapped leg to prevent Werner from advancing to side control.
Werner prevents King from improving his position.
King is positioning himself well to prevent Werner advancing to mount.
Werner is trying to control. King wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
King has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Werner is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Werner.
King misses with a series of wild punches.

Werner drives through and clinches with King against the cage.
King tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Werner smiles and moves away.
Werner tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Werner.
King is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werner wants to lay and pray for a moment but King keeps working.

Werner goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, King has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Werner but great work by King.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King stands up.
Werner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Werner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Werner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
King jumps guard but Werner stands there with King around his waist. King gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
King can't get the takedown.
James Werner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy King.
King avoiding damage as Werner throws knees to the body.

Werner breaks the clinch.

Werner shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. King manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King trying to keep a closed guard but Werner is proving a slippery customer.
Werner trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
King is trying to keep Werner in close.

King had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Werner defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werner wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
Werner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Werner looking to sit in guard and control but King gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

King won't allow Werner to sweep him here.

King gets to his feet. Werner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Werner drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
King is trying to improve his position.
King is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werner lands a decent elbow from side control.

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 James Werner.
I think Werner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Werner!