PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Jenson Sterling James (ranked 9220 p4p, 688 weight class) and Yoenis Gaviria (ranked 25193 p4p, 780 weight class). Jenson Sterling James could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yoenis Gaviria's chin.

Sterling James
vs
Gaviria

179 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jenson Sterling James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoenis Gaviria!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sterling James gets a clinch.
Gaviria misses with a knee strike.
Gaviria trying to control the position but instead, Sterling James has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gaviria into the ropes.

Sterling James breaks the clinch.

Sterling James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sterling James tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaviria tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Sterling James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gaviria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaviria tries to land a body kick

and Sterling James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sterling James.
A left hand lands to the body for Sterling James.
Gaviria looking to stall.
Sterling James connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gaviria's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sterling James gets a clinch.
Gaviria wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sterling James rushes Gaviria and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Sterling James lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gaviria taking a breather.
Gaviria is trying to break the clinch but Sterling James has him pressed against the ropes.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gaviria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaviria avoids the head kick by Sterling James.
Gaviria throws out a counter right but Sterling James avoids it with no problem.

Sterling James darts in and clinches Gaviria up against the ropes.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sterling James moves into range and clinches up with Gaviria.
Sterling James is stalling here.
A nice left hand lands by Sterling James.

Gaviria escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaviria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sterling James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sterling James is struggling to control the position.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sterling James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sterling James fakes the leg kick and cracks Gaviria in the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James closes the distance and pushes Gaviria back into the ropes.
Sterling James will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gaviria up against the ropes.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaviria changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gaviria just misses with a punch to the body.
Sterling James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gaviria circles away quickly and effectively.

Sterling James clinches up against the ropes.

Sterling James manages to break the clinch.
Gaviria tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gaviria showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sterling James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaviria rushes Sterling James and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sterling James. Gaviria does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sterling James wants to clinch up but Gaviria keeps it at a distance.
Sterling James throws a combination. Gaviria tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gaviria instigates a clinch.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaviria throws a solid leg kick but Sterling James takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gaviria.

Sterling James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A knee to the head by Sterling James.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenson Sterling James 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.

Gaviria moves out of range of the body kick.

Gaviria gets tackled into the ropes by Sterling James. Sterling James maintains the clinch.
Gaviria looking to slow down the pace here.
Gaviria wants to break the clinch but can't.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gaviria stalling in the clinch but Sterling James improves position.

Sterling James breaks from the clinch.
Sterling James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaviria tries to clinch but Sterling James moves away
and Sterling James counters with a three punch combo that has Gaviria backing up. Gaviria nods at Sterling James to acknowledge the strikes.
Sterling James fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaviria tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sterling James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Sterling James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaviria tries to clinch but Sterling James moves out of range.
Gaviria tries to clinch there but Sterling James circles away.
Sterling James lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gaviria moves in looking to clinch but Sterling James pushes him off.
Gaviria moves in looking to clinch but Sterling James pushes him off.
Sterling James tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaviria swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sterling James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gaviria counters by moving into the clinch.
Jenson Sterling James has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sterling James lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gaviria backwards.

Sterling James breaks the clinch.
Gaviria blocks a head kick by Sterling James.
Gaviria appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Jenson Sterling James is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaviria lands a nice hook to Sterling James's body. Sterling James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gaviria throws a leg kick but Sterling James sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gaviria is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James has Gaviria up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gaviria has had enough of the clinch but Sterling James keeps him there for the moment.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sterling James gets a clinch.
Gaviria is trying to stall.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sterling James tries to clinch there but Gaviria circles away.
Sterling James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gaviria can do to turn this around?
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!
Sterling James scores with a head kick.
Sterling James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaviria wants to land a leg kick but Sterling James is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaviria darts in and clinches Sterling James up against the ropes.
Gaviria lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sterling James fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sterling James clinches up against the ropes.

Gaviria escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaviria tries to clinch but Sterling James is having none of it.
Sterling James looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Sterling James moves into range and clinches up with Gaviria.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sterling James tries to work over Gaviria's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sterling James moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaviria takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Sterling James darts in and clinches Gaviria up against the ropes.
Sterling James has Gaviria pressed against the ropes.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaviria wants to clinch up but Sterling James keeps it at a distance.
Gaviria fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sterling James is looking for a counter combo.
Sterling James tries to clinch up but Gaviria circles away and keeps his distance.
Gaviria is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenson Sterling James dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sterling James moves into the clinch.
Gaviria has had enough of the clinch but Sterling James keeps him there for the moment.
Gaviria misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sterling James.
Gaviria using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sterling James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sterling James cracks Gaviria with a nice body shot.
Sterling James manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Sterling James breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sterling James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gaviria's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling James lands a good knee to the midsection. Gaviria won't want to take too many of those.
Gaviria tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sterling James lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sterling James throws an elbow that misses.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gaviria moves into the clinch successfully.

Sterling James breaks from the clinch.
Gaviria moves in looking to clinch but Sterling James pushes him off.
Sterling James wants to clinch up but Gaviria keeps it at a distance.
Sterling James plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gaviria showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sterling James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaviria fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gaviria tries to clinch up.
Gaviria wants to clinch.
Sterling James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gaviria circles away quickly and effectively.
Sterling James moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromGaviria.
Gaviria swings for the body but Sterling James moves out of range.
Sterling James lands with a good body shot.
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!

Gaviria moves into the clinch successfully.
Gaviria has had enough of the clinch but Sterling James keeps him there for the moment.

Sterling James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sterling James scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaviria has managed to clinch.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gaviria looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sterling James throws out a powerful jab.
A head kick from Sterling James lands but Gaviria takes it in his stride.

Gaviria moves into the clinch successfully.

Sterling James breaks the clinch.
Sterling James blocks the body kick.
Jenson Sterling James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sterling James takes the fight into the clinch.
Sterling James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gaviria is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gaviria rushes Sterling James and presses him up against the ropes.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sterling James drives through and clinches with Gaviria against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaviria stalling in the clinch but Sterling James improves position.
Sterling James prevents Gaviria from breaking the clinch.
Sterling James stalling against the ropes.
Sterling James taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Sterling James for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Gaviria has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jenson Sterling James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sterling 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

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