PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bubba James Jr (ranked 4775 p4p, 395 weight class) and Jacob Spirit (ranked 4458 p4p, 385 weight class). James Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Biscuits & Gravy. Bubba James Jr has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

James Jr
vs
Spirit

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba James Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacob Spirit!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spirit shoots for a takedown but James Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James Jr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spirit circles away.
Spirit counters with a body kick.
Spirit throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spirit cracks James Jr with a right hand to the side of the head.
James Jr tries to clinch up but Spirit circles away and keeps his distance.
Spirit lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
James Jr tries to clinch but Spirit moves out of range.
Spirit stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James Jr tries to clinch there but Spirit circles away.
Spirit throws a head kick but James Jr moves out of range.
James Jr throws a combination that misses

and Spirit holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
James Jr is trying to push Spirit away but Spirit has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spirit manages to pull guard.
James Jr wanted to stand there but Spirit had control of the position.
Spirit seems keen to control James Jr's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James Jr wants to stand and escape but instead Spirit has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Spirit is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spirit thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Spirit sitting in guard, not really doing much.
James Jr will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Spirit's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Spirit passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Spirit stands up from half guard.
James Jr blocks a head kick by Spirit.
Bubba James Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James Jr looks to land a combination but Spirit avoids it well.
Spirit shoots in for a takedown but James Jr shows good takedown defense.

Spirit drives through and clinches with James Jr against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Spirit.

Spirit's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James Jr scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James Jr misses with a double jab.

James Jr drives through and clinches with Spirit against the cage.
James Jr is trying to force a seperation but Spirit has the dominant position.
A bit of stalling here from Spirit.
Spirit is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bubba James Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Spirit.
Spirit is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Spirit manages to break the clinch.
James Jr lands with a kick to the ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Spirit takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Spirit dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spirit misses with a head kick.
Spirit throws a combination that misses
and James Jr counters with a nice body shot.
Some wild striking there from Spirit.

Spirit takes the fight into the clinch.

Spirit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A clash of legs there as James Jr blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James Jr checks a low kick from Spirit.
Spirit closes this distance looking for a takedown but James Jr circles away.
James Jr throws a left and a right that both miss

and Spirit holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Spirit keeps control of James Jr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Spirit misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit tries to score a body lock takedown but James Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
James Jr is trying to push Spirit away but Spirit has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Spirit is looking for a takedown.
Bubba James Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Spirit.
Spirit taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Spirit wants a takedown but no success here.
Spirit wants a takedown but no success here.
Spirit is breathing heavily.
Spirit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spirit has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Spirit has James Jr pushed against the cage.

Spirit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Spirit counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James Jr fails with the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by James Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Spirit, which made it look bad.
Horrible takedown attempt by Spirit or perhaps it was just good defense by James Jr, which made it look bad.
James Jr tries to clinch up but Spirit circles away and keeps his distance.
Spirit fails with the takedown.
Spirit throws a nice looking combination but James Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James Jr is looking to clinch but Spirit is avoiding it.
Spirit drops down looking to force a counter takedown but James Jr defends it well.
James Jr throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from James Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Spirit throws a counter combo.

James Jr gets tackled into the cage by Spirit. Spirit maintains the clinch.

Spirit drags the fight down to the ground.
Spirit has James Jr pulled in close to control his posture.
James Jr wanted to stand there but Spirit had control of the position.
Spirit managing to control the position.
Spirit manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spirit accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spirit passes into half guard.
Spirit has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Spirit unloads with some shots from mount but James Jr bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spirit throws some wild stikes that James Jr manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Spirit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! James Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

James Jr scores with a kick to the midsection.

Spirit shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James Jr is trying to defend but Spirit finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Spirit passes to full mount!
Spirit takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James Jr is trying to escape the mount.
Spirit controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Let's hope that Spirit has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Spirit dominating with strikes here.
Spirit controlling the position easily from mount.

Spirit is going oldschool here, as he tries to force James Jr to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so James Jr shrugs it off.
Spirit controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Spirit controlling his opponent.
Spirit looking to finish James Jr with some ground and pound. This is bad for James Jr!
Bubba James Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spirit controlling his opponent.
Spirit throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spirit looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spirit working for a guillotine from mount but James Jr is in no mood to give up.
Spirit looking to control and managing it successfully.

Spirit looking to secure an arm triangle but James Jr defends it well.
Spirit landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Spirit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Spirit 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Spirit!
Jacob Spirit opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.