PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ajax Aquila Corvus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiga Jim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taiga Jim 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!

Aquila Corvus
vs
Jim

185 cm
25
187 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

189 cm
26
189 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

Conviction
IniTech Nutrition

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ajax Aquila Corvus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taiga Jim!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aquila Corvus attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Aquila Corvus.
Aquila Corvus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aquila Corvus's corner calls for a 1-2. Aquila Corvus obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fighters circling - Aquila Corvus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jim is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aquila Corvus keeps Jim at a distance using the push kick.
Jim connects with a single shot there.
Jim takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Aquila Corvus leaves Jim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Jim rushes Aquila Corvus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aquila Corvus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jim misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Jim.
Jim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jim goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aquila Corvus prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim being controlled against the cage.
Jim has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Aquila Corvus after a bit of a struggle.
Ajax Aquila Corvus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taiga Jim.
Aquila Corvus blocks a body shot from Jim.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jim.
Aquila Corvus lands a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Aquila Corvus - that landed with a thud.
Jim's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Aquila Corvus misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jim.
A head punch on the inside from Aquila Corvus fails to land.
Aquila Corvus tries to work over Jim's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jim goes for a takedown attempt but Aquila Corvus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jim shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aquila Corvus defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Aquila Corvus.
Aquila Corvus staying out of range there.
Jim lands an overhand right.
Jim has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Jim rushes Aquila Corvus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jim lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Aquila Corvus.
Aquila Corvus stalling in the clinch.
Jim lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jim working aggressively here.
Aquila Corvus misses with a punch to the body.
Aquila Corvus throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jims head.
Jim stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Jim wants the takedown. Aquila Corvus is fighting it off but Jim persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Aquila Corvus's guard against the cage.
Jim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jim throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim postures up in Aquila Corvus's guard and throws a big left but Aquila Corvus blocks it.
Jim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aquila Corvus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jim wants to control from the top but Aquila Corvus keeps moving.
Jim throws a big elbow that misses.
Jim throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aquila Corvus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jim drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Aquila Corvus defends it well.
Jim scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Aquila Corvus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jim.
Aquila Corvus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jim.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aquila Corvus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aquila Corvus misses with a body shot.
Jim darts in looking for a takedown but Aquila Corvus gets double underhooks and turns Jim into the cage.
Good shot there by Jim.
Jim fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aquila Corvus avoids it really well and circles away.
Aquila Corvus throws a big shot that misses.
Jim moves out of range as Aquila Corvus strikes.
Jim connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aquila Corvus. Aquila Corvus circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jab by Jim.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jim throws the left hand but Aquila Corvus avoids the punch easily.
Jim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aquila Corvus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jim tries for a takedown but Aquila Corvus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Taiga Jim 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.

Jim doesn't manage to clinch there - Aquila Corvus circles away.
Jim throws a jab when Aquila Corvus was well out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jim.
Jim takes one to the chin there.
Aquila Corvus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jim doesn't seem bothered though.
Jim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aquila Corvus moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Jim fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Jim misses its intended target.
Aquila Corvus waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jim.
And Jim tries to counter it with a takedown but Aquila Corvus pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jim with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aquila Corvus misses with a hook. Jim ducked under it nicely.
Jim throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Aquila Corvus on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jim just misses with a punch to the body.
Jim throws a shot from downtown. Aquila Corvus moves away and avoids it.
Jim scores with a hook.
Aquila Corvus tries to land a leg kick but Jim saw it coming and moves away.
Jim loads up on a big right hand but Aquila Corvus slips the punch.
Taiga Jim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aquila Corvus scores with a nice right hand.
Aquila Corvus lands with a nice body kick.
Jim looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aquila Corvus swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ajax Aquila Corvus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taiga Jim.
Jim misses with a straight right.
Aquila Corvus is looking to counter punch.
Jim missing with a left hand there. Aquila Corvus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jim displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aquila Corvus throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Aquila Corvus misses its intended target.

Jim gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The strikes coming from Jim are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Aquila Corvus struggling a bit here.
Jim fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Jim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jim looks up at the clock and then as Aquila Corvus takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jim smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jim throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Aquila Corvus works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Jim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aquila Corvus's head.
Jim throws a strike but Aquila Corvus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jim postures up in Aquila Corvus's guard and throws a big left but Aquila Corvus blocks it.
Jim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aquila Corvus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jim wants to control from the top but Aquila Corvus keeps moving.
Jim might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aquila Corvus haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aquila Corvus on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jim loads up on a big right hand but Aquila Corvus slips the punch.
Aquila Corvus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jim slips under a jab.
Jim lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Aquila Corvus misses with a body punch
and Jim connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jim throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aquila Corvus's waist but Aquila Corvus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jim off to one side.
Aquila Corvus is looking to counter punch.
Jim swings away with a body shot that misses
and Aquila Corvus counters with a low kick, right behind Jim 's knee.
Jim might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Jim looks to land a left hand but Aquila Corvus moved out of range nicely.
Aquila Corvus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aquila Corvus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jim tests Aquila Corvus's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice cross by Jim.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiga Jim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Aquila Corvus misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Jim counters with a straight right hand.
Good leg kick by Aquila Corvus there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Jim closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jim fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Jim looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Aquila Corvus is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jim misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Aquila Corvus is trying to control Jim's posture but Jim avoids it.
Jim taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jim working the strikes but Aquila Corvus uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aquila Corvus wants to get back to full guard.
Jim is trying to control the action in half guard but Aquila Corvus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jim throws a strike but Aquila Corvus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Jim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aquila Corvus trying to keep a closed guard but Jim is proving a slippery customer.
Aquila Corvus keeping full guard, as Jim tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jim is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aquila Corvus tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jim is able to avoid easily.
Ajax Aquila Corvus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ajax Aquila Corvus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aquila Corvus throwing a counter right hand but Jim manages to avoid it.
Jim misses with a takedown
and Aquila Corvus counters with a nice low kick that buckles Jim's knee momentarily.
Good exchange - Jim coming out on top.
Jim tries to clinch up
and Aquila Corvus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aquila Corvus misses with a leg kick

and Jim counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aquila Corvus taking some punishment here, with Jim in his half guard.
Aquila Corvus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jim.
Jim is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Aquila Corvus regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Jim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim throwing strikes but missing.
Jim wants to control from the top but Aquila Corvus keeps moving.
Jim is stalling in the full guard.
Jim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jim works over Aquila Corvus with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jim preventing the sweep.
Jim is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aquila Corvus fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Jim is out of range.
Jim tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Jim closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Aquila Corvus did well to prevent Jim getting side control.
Jim looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jim looks to land a strike but Aquila Corvus avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jim throws a big right hand that misses.
Taiga Jim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jim throws a strike but Aquila Corvus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taiga Jim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jim winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taiga Jim!
After winning the bout, Taiga Jim thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.