PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Swift (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swift comes into a darkened arena with his song building. This Fire Burns by Killswitch Engage kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

James
vs
Swift

175 cm
22
172 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathan Swift!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Swift fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. James sprawls well initially but Swift persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Swift trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
James is looking to improve his position.
Swift looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
Swift slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

James looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Swift passes into side control.
James stops Swift from passing to mount.
James is trying to control Swift's posture but Swift avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swift thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James gets back to half guard.
Swift passes to full mount!
James tries to reverse the position but Swift maintains control.
Swift looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Swift goes for an armbar but James turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from James.

James drops back looking for a leg! Swift is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Swift manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Swift's guard.

Swift has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Swift looks gassed!
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swift is keeping the position for now.
James postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swift has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
James advances to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
James throwing shots but Swift is blocking nicely.

James is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Swift has managed to free his arm - good work.
Swift is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Swift avoid being mounted?
Swift moves into full guard.

Swift throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Swift is retaining full guard.

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.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Swift is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swift tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Swift is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Swift has escaped and now he's on top!

James looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Swift passes into half guard.
Swift wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.

Swift is working for a kimura but James is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Swift 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.

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Swift looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Swift is looking for a sweep.
Swift looking for a sweep but James has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Swift is wriggling around trying to escape.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.

James is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Swift is surviving well by controlling James's body position as best he can.
Swift tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swift defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from James.
Swift keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Swift is looking to escape.
Swift is wriggling around trying to escape.
James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Swift has worked his arm free - good work by Swift!
Swift struggling a bit here.

James is trying to get an arm triangle but Swift is defending well.
Swift 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.
Swift sneaks back into half guard.
Swift trying to control here.
Swift makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Swift.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to pass the guard but Swift is keeping the position.
James is working hard here to advance position.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Swift is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.
James is trying to keep Swift in close.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Swift wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.

Swift thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James keeping moving, preventing Swift from controlling successfully.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Swift can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swift wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Swift's guard.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James wants to pass the guard but Swift is keeping the position.
James pushing down on Swift's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Swift with the active half guard here but James passes nicely into side control.
Rick James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Swift struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swift is looking to regain half guard here but James keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift wants to control but James postures up.

James tries for a kimura but Swift is defending well.
James wants to control but Swift is keeping him busy.

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Swift can't do much from the bottom here.
Swift might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control James kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two 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.
Swift is looking for a sweep.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Swift knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Swift tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
James trying to control the position but Swift is working away.
Swift manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James passes to full mount!

James working for a guillotine from mount but Swift is in no mood to give up.
James trying to control but Swift is having none of it.
Swift is wriggling around trying to escape.

James goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Swift is on top in guard.

Swift drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swift jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Swift can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James keeping moving, preventing Swift from controlling successfully.
Swift stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

James working for a triangle but Swift defends it easily.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Swift advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

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