PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Noah Prince (ranked 24992 p4p, 623 weight class) and James Raja (ranked 5183 p4p, 468 weight class). James Raja looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Prince
vs
Raja

185 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
179 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Level Up!

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Noah Prince!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Raja!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raja lands a nice shot to the body.
Raja comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Raja swinging wildly here.
Raja misses with a jab, cross combination.
Prince appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Prince takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prince showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raja.
Prince changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Raja connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raja scores with a body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Raja there.
Raja goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Raja tries to bum rush Prince with a series of wild strikes but Prince uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raja has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Raja catches Prince with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A combination from Raja does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raja misses with the combination.
Prince appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Raja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Prince attempts a counter takedown but Raja avoids it well and moves away.
Raja throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Prince sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Raja throws a series of punches but Prince avoids them all with ease.
Prince appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Raja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Prince half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raja looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raja falls off balance throwing a combination

and Prince decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Raja's guard.

Raja is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Prince presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja is pressed up against the cage. Prince has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Raja down to the mat. Raja avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Prince's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Raja connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Prince scrambles back to his feet.
Raja throws a right and a left that Prince avoids nicely.
Prince displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raja throws out the jab.
Prince appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Prince ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No joy there for Raja, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Prince attempts a counter takedown but Raja avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Prince circles away quickly and effectively.
Prince half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Prince needs to keep his hands up - Raja had a free shot at his head there.
A combination from Raja does no damage.
Prince tries to counter with a takedown but Raja is quick to defend against it.
Raja swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Prince decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Raja's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

Prince is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raja dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raja falls off balance throwing a combination

and Prince counters with a single leg into guard. Raja didn't expect that.
Raja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Prince thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Prince has gone for a leg lock! Raja slips out almost immediately though and dives into Prince's guard.

Prince wants to stand and escape but Raja is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raja is standing up over Prince. Prince looks to escape but Raja dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prince wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Prince trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Raja wants to control but Prince is keeping him busy.
Raja is breathing heavily.
Prince is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Raja asserts his dominance and retains side control.

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.
Prince bucks up and tries to throw Raja off but instead Raja has got his back!
Prince is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Prince trying to get back to his feet but Raja is in full control for now.
James Raja has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four 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.

Prince defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Raja's arms.
Prince is trying to get back to his feet but Raja has full control of the position and if anything, Prince has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Raja struggling to keep hold of the position.
Prince wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Raja rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Prince moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Prince looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Raja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Prince appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
James Raja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Prince takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Raja swings for the body but Prince moves out of range.
Prince on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raja lands with an uppercut that bounces Prince off the cage and back into range.
Raja closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raja looks to land a combination. Prince sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Raja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raja looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Raja.
Raja misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Raja does no damage.
Prince half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raja throws out a loose jab but Prince uses good head movement to avoid it.
James Raja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raja falls off balance throwing a combination

and Prince counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Prince advances to half guard.

Prince seems to be looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Prince is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raja doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Prince.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prince is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Raja is just riding it out for now. Prince eventually gives up the hold.

Prince is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Raja sees it coming and defends easily.

Prince is looking for a kimura here.

That's four 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.

Prince is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Prince seems to be working for a kimura but Raja defends the submission attempt.

Prince seems to be working for a kimura but Raja defends the submission attempt.
Raja is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Prince looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Noah Prince has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raja wants to control but Prince is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Raja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raja winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

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