PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josue Oliavo (ranked 8164 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murray Sterling James (ranked 6497 p4p, 0 weight class). Murray Sterling James acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Oliavo
vs
Sterling James

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josue Oliavo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Murray Sterling James!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliavo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sterling James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sterling James moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sterling James misses with a head kick.
Sterling James takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Oliavo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Oliavo lands a leg kick that knocks Sterling James off balance momentarily.
Oliavo tries to close the distance and clinch but Sterling James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oliavo is looking to clinch but Sterling James is avoiding it.
Sterling James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Oliavo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Oliavo lands a glancing blow to the side of Sterling James's head.
Oliavo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sterling James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Sterling James gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sterling James takes a little break here. Oliavo wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Oliavo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliavo is looking for a sweep.

Sterling James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sterling James wants to take a breather but Oliavo manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Sterling James.
Oliavo looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sterling James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Oliavo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Oliavo is trying to keep Sterling James in close.
Sterling James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sterling James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oliavo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sterling James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Oliavo's head.
Sterling James wants to stand but Oliavo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Oliavo keeping full guard, as Sterling James tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sterling James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Oliavo counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliavo jabs Sterling James to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Oliavo has managed to clinch.
Oliavo tries to pull guard but Sterling James won't allow it.

Oliavo breaks from the clinch.
Oliavo lands with a nice body punch.
Sterling James takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Sterling James tries to keep at a distance but Oliavo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sterling James can't get the takedown.
Josue Oliavo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Sterling James.
Sterling James looks winded!
Sterling James trying to stall but Oliavo improves his position.

Oliavo breaks the clinch.
Oliavo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oliavo misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Oliavo coming out on top.

Sterling James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oliavo is pushing Sterling James up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short body shot lands from Sterling James as the two fighters clinch.
Sterling James jumps guard but Oliavo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sterling James letting Oliavo take a breather here.

Oliavo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sterling James misses with a wild body shot.
Oliavo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sterling James's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josue Oliavo dominated that round.
That's time! Oliavo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oliavo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sterling James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.
Sterling James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oliavo controls Sterling James momentarily but Sterling James frees himself.
Sterling James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliavo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sterling James is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oliavo tries to clinch up.
Oliavo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good exchange - Oliavo coming out on top.
Sterling James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oliavo throws a big counter combination but Sterling James scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Oliavo with a nice cross.
Oliavo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sterling James decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Oliavo's guard.
Sterling James's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Oliavo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sterling James can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James is looking to work some ground and pound but Oliavo has wrist control.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.
Sterling James sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Sterling James has gone for a leg lock! Oliavo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sterling James's guard.

Oliavo trying to control but Sterling James is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliavo won't allow Sterling James to sweep him here.
Sterling James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sterling James is breathing heavily.
Oliavo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sterling James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Oliavo trying to control but Sterling James is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Oliavo with a jab.
Sterling James walks into a straight right hand from Oliavo.
Sterling James takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Sterling James shoots in and gets a takedown into Oliavo's guard.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.
Oliavo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oliavo is pulling down on Sterling James's head. It's preventing any offense from Sterling James, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oliavo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josue Oliavo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Oliavo tries to clinch but Sterling James is having none of it.
Oliavo tries to clinch up.
Oliavo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sterling James takes one on the button.
Oliavo is looking to score with low kicks.
Oliavo throws a wild body kick that Sterling James sees coming a mile off.
Oliavo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sterling James shoots in for a takedown but Oliavo shows good takedown defense.
Murray Sterling James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliavo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sterling James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oliavo is fending him off so far but Sterling James persists. Nope, Oliavo circles away and we're back to standing.
As Sterling James tries to get set, Oliavo tries to push him back and clinch up but Sterling James manages to avoid the attempt.
Oliavo scores with a nice right hand.
Sterling James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Oliavo's waist but Oliavo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sterling James off to one side.
Josue Oliavo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Sterling James.
Sterling James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice cross by Oliavo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Oliavo. That snapped Sterling James's head back.
Oliavo lunges at Sterling James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sterling James's hand.
Sterling James walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Sterling James is rocked!

Sterling James clinches up against the cage.
Oliavo fails to pull guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Oliavo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sterling James has Oliavo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Oliavo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Oliavo pulls guard.
Sterling James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Oliavo's guard.
Sterling James is trying to control. Oliavo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Oliavo wants to control but Sterling James is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliavo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sterling James stopping the sweep attempt from Oliavo.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.
Oliavo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Oliavo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliavo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sterling James.
Oliavo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Oliavo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Oliavo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slapping leg kick lands for Oliavo.

Sterling James gets tackled into the cage by Oliavo. Oliavo maintains the clinch.
Oliavo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sterling James prevents it.
Oliavo tries to score a body lock takedown but Sterling James shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Oliavo looking to stall.
Sterling James taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James wants a takedown.
Oliavo is trying to maintain a safe position but Sterling James gets an underhook and turns Oliavo into the cage.

Oliavo pulls guard effortlessly.
Oliavo controls Sterling James momentarily but Sterling James frees himself.
Murray Sterling James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oliavo looking for a sweep. Not yet Oliavo, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliavo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sterling James wants to control from the top but Oliavo keeps moving.
Oliavo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sterling James manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josue Oliavo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Oliavo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josue Oliavo!