PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Spas Spasov (ranked 23443 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clinton James (ranked 5744 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Clinton James was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Spasov
vs
James

180 cm
23
159 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

165 cm
19
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Spas Spasov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clinton James!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spasov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clinton James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James looks to land a combination but Spasov avoids it well.
A combination from James does no damage.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Spasov.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Spasov.
Spasov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Spasov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from James misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Spas Spasov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James wants to control but Spasov is keeping him busy.
Spasov is looking to regain half guard here but James keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
James is looking to take a break and control but Spasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spasov regains half guard, as James was trying to land strikes.
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spasov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spasov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. James is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
James prevents Spasov from improving his position.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spasov keeps working.
James is stalling here. Spasov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! James seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Spasov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Spasov working away.
James tries to buck Spasov off but Spasov is having none of it.
Spasov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James looks to move to half guard but instead Spasov has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
James is really stuck here.

Spasov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. James is defending well though. Spasov let's go of the attempt for now.
James avoids the strikes from Spasov.
Spasov thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
James finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
James avoids a strike by Spasov and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Spasov's guard! Fantastic escape!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spasov keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James distracts Spasov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Spasov has wrist control.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Spasov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spasov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Spasov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Clinton James will probably get the nod.
That's time! Spasov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spasov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James wants to control but Spasov is keeping him busy.
Spasov wants to control but James postures up.
James is looking to take a break and control but Spasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spasov struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is looking to take a break and control but Spasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spasov regains half guard there - taking advantage of James's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Spasov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
James wants to control from the top but Spasov keeps moving.

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

James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Spasov uses from the top position.
Spasov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James pulls Spasov in close to prevent any damage.
Spasov content to stall in guard here.
Spasov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of James's head.
Spasov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spasov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Spasov is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spasov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Spasov closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Spasov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Spasov counters with a two punch combo.

Spasov tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.
James winds up and cracks Spasov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Spasov is trying to stand up here but James is controlling him well.
Spasov trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spasov tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
James wants to take a breather but Spasov is having none of it.
James winds up and cracks Spasov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spasov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spasov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James trying to control from Spasov's half guard. Spasov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Spasov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spasov pushing down on James's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spas Spasov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

James slaps away a takedown attempt from Spasov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

James drives through with a takedown into guard.
Spasov keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Spasov wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Spasov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spasov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spasov's head.
Spasov has his hands on James's head, controlling the position.
Spas Spasov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Spasov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James wants to sweep here but Spasov controlling him for the moment.
Spasov trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spasov's guard. Nice move by James!

Spasov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James pushing down on Spasov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
James is trying to control. Spasov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spasov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but James scores with a couple of nice shots.
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spasov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spasov is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.
James is looking to take a break and control but Spasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James passes to side control.
Spasov is not content to let James control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James laying and praying for a moment but Spasov takes advantage and regains half guard.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spasov keeps working.
James is nestled in close to Spasov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spasov trying to control but James postures up.
James is looking to take a break and control but Spasov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clinton James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!