PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey James (ranked 985 p4p, 104 weight class) and Mamoru Date (ranked 1025 p4p, 109 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

James
vs
Date

176 cm
32
158 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

178 cm
24
160 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamoru Date!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a nice looking combination but Date bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
Date doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
James with a poor takedown
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Date cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
James has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Touch Of Death Combat Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Date ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It seemed like Date was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Joey James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Date avoids a punch combination nicely.
James misses with a jab to the body
and Date connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James misses with a double jab.
Date tries to counter with a clinch but James shakes him off and moves away.
Date avoids a punch combination nicely.

Date gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Date lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
James looking for a takedown.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Date.
A nice right hand lands inside from Date.
Date misses with a punch on the inside.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Date pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from James.
Date uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Date is clearly trying to counter these attacks from James with a body shot.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Date sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
Date tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Date.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Date ducks under a wild hook from James.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Date.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Date counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Date slips a straight right by James.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Date moves into the clinch.
Date lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
James can't get the takedown.
Date is working James over against the cage.
James is breathing heavily.
Date misses with a punch on the inside.
James looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Date fights it off and pushes away nicely.
James throws an off balance right hand
and Date makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Date just misses with a punch to the body.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
James misses with a straight left.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Date counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Date.
Date lands an uppercut.
Date lands a right hand.
James has had enough of the clinch but Date keeps him there for the moment.
Date lands a nice shot to the body.
Date lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Date lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Date working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Date misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Date.
Date stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Date pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James takes a shot to the head.
Date prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Date lands on the inside with an uppercut.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Date lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Date.
Date has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. James seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Date can turn it around.
Date lands an uppercut.

James is rocked!
Date lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Date prevents it.
Date lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamoru Date dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Date throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Date looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Date is just out of range.
Joey James is winning the standup battle so far.
James throws a lazy uppercut

and Date moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Date.
Date throws a punch but it's blocked by James.
Date displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
Date has a couple of punches blocked by James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James blocking some punches.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
A head punch on the inside from Date fails to land.
Date lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Date manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
James can't break the clinch.
Date has a couple of punches blocked by James.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Date managing to block the knees to the body from James.
Date throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
Date scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mamoru Date seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Date is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Date misses with a hook from the clinch.
James is trying to break free.
Date fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Date throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Date to keep the fight standing.
James working hard to break the clinch.
Date working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Date.
Date lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Date pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Date avoiding damage.
Date has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Date effectively controlling the action here.
James takes a shot to the head.
Date lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Date controls his hands.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A left hand lands to the body for Date.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Date creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Date.
Date lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James takes a shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Date.
Date scores with a nice hook to the head.
Date lands a shot to the body.
Date lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Date lands a body punch.
Date working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Date throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
Date lands a nice uppercut.
Date lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
Date pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Date lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Date lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
James is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Date.
Date lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Date lands a body punch in the clinch.
Date lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Date lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Date slows down the pace here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Date.
Date creates a bit of space for himself and rocks James with a big uppercut! James tries to clinch up but Date pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples James to the mat! James covers up and Date unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mamoru Date!