PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh James (ranked 6015 p4p, 428 weight class) and Juantamo Padilla (ranked 5841 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Padilla

170 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juantamo Padilla!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Padilla swivels and escapes.
Padilla tries to counter by closing the distance.

James rushes Padilla and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

James manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Padilla trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Padilla's guard.

James postures up.
Padilla 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.
Padilla keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.
Padilla has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but James has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Padilla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
James controlling the position from side mount.
Padilla tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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 is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Padilla knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A control attempt from Padilla but he's now mounted!
Padilla tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Padilla can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is standing up, even though he is in mount.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Padilla sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James tries to clinch up but Padilla circles away and keeps his distance.
As James backs off Padilla throws a huge counter combo but James manages to avoid it all.
Padilla doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Padilla throws a leg kick but James moved away.
Padilla scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Padilla shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.

James closes the distance and pushes Padilla back into the cage.
Padilla is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James pulls him back up using the underhooks.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Padilla counters with a series of strikes. James will be more careful next time no doubt.
Padilla scores with a three punch combo!

James is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

James clinches with his opponent.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James effectively controlling the action here.
Padilla fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Padilla tries to tie him up.
Padilla looking to stall.
Padilla is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Padilla controls the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Padilla displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Padilla is trying to control but James manages to pass to mount!
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Padilla is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James controlling his opponent.
James thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Padilla is working to get back to half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting James here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Padilla is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

James wants to finish this one by submission but Padilla is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from James.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Padilla can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
James is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Padilla can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Poor strikes thrown by James there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Padilla is trying desperately to improve position.
Padilla really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James trying to control but Padilla is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla is just holding on here. James manages to take his back.
Padilla staying busy and making it hard for James to control.
Padilla tries to escape but James has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
James controlling from the back.
James trying to control.
Padilla is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

James is looking for the choke from the back position but Padilla is controlling his hands well.

James looking to break Padilla's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Padilla remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise James will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
James missing with punches from the back.
Will James go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Padilla is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh James dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Padilla tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Padilla misses with a head kick.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Josh James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Padilla misses with a takedown attempt

and James moves into the clinch.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James looking for a takedown.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Padilla controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Padilla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

James closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands some shots froms side control.
James gets to mount! Padilla was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Padilla is looking to escape.
Padilla tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Padilla is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Padilla wants to hold on but James pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Padilla wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
I really don't envy Padilla right now.
James trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Padilla is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Padilla trying to control the action but James just sinks the hooks in.

Padilla showing good submission defense here.
Padilla is trying to break free.

Padilla is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake James off. It looks like it's working - James slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Padilla displaying calm under pressure there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.
Padilla has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from James.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James attempts a counter takedown but Padilla avoids it well and moves away.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Padilla sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Padilla is defended easily by James.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
Juantamo Padilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Padilla pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Josh James!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Josh James!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Josh James!

Josh James wins by unanimous decision!