PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentine Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bradley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ross
vs
Bradley

201 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Valentine Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Bradley!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ross manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bradley on his heels. He'll look to pass Bradley's guard now, I'm sure.
Bradley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
Bradley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ross wants to control from the top but Bradley keeps moving.
Ross won't allow Bradley to sweep him here.
Ross controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bradley is pulling down on Ross's head. It's preventing any offense from Ross, at least for the moment.
Ross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross postures up in Bradley's guard and throws a big left but Bradley blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bradley throws a series of punches but Ross avoids them all with ease.

Bradley clinches up with Ross and pushes him back against the cage.

Bradley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ross moves out of range of the body kick from Bradley.

Ross has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradley tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ross is trying to pull guard but Bradley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ross pressing his opponent against the cage.

Ross pulls Bradley into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ross holds on and takes a little breather.
Ross will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ross working for a triangle but Bradley defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bradley looking to sit in guard and control but Ross gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradley keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
Ross is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bradley is looking to sweep but instead, Ross has passed into half guard.
Ross not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four 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.
Ross is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ross slows the pace down in half guard.
Bradley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ross.
Ross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bradley defending well though.

Bradley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ross lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentine Ross dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bradley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bradley moves into range and clinches up with Ross.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ross checks a leg kick.
James Bradley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bradley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bradley keeps control of Ross as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bradley can do to turn this around?
Bradley is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bradley is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bradley breaks the clinch.

Bradley closes the distance and clinches.
Ross jumps guard but Bradley stands there with Ross around his waist. Ross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradley misses with an elbow over the top.

Bradley gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ross manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bradley throws a big right hand that misses.
Ross tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bradley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ross. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ross is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ross looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bradley wants to stand but Ross is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradley being controlled here momentarily.
Bradley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bradley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ross's guard.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross tries to break the clinch but Bradley is controlling the position.
Ross has had enough of the clinch but Bradley keeps him there for the moment.
Bradley lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Valentine Ross has been cut.
Ross tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bradley just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bradley has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ross uses from the top position.
Ross stopping the sweep attempt from Bradley.
Bradley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bradley wants to sweep here but Ross controlling him for the moment.
Bradley is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ross throwing strikes but missing.
Ross is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ross stands up over Bradley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ross sitting in guard here, content to control.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bradley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Valentine Ross's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ross throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bradley looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Bradley moves into the clinch successfully.
Ross misses with an elbow over the top.
Bradley goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bradley as he avoids it easily.
Ross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bradley as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bradley changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ross looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ross stops Bradley from passing to mount.
Bradley throwing strikes but Ross manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross controlling the position.
Ross misses with the ground and pound.
Bradley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ross remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

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.
Ross wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bradley keeps working.
Bradley is looking for a sweep.
Ross in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Bradley tries to bench press Ross off him but Ross keeps the position.
Bradley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross lands an elbow.
Bradley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Valentine Ross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bradley can't do much from the bottom here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bradley. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bradley on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bradley pushes Ross away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ross gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ross is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bradley tries to land a front kick but Ross steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Bradley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ross's half guard.
Ross wants to improve his position but Bradley is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ross gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Bradley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bradley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

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