PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darren Steward (ranked 6639 p4p, 485 weight class) and Bubba James Jr (ranked 6035 p4p, 459 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying James Jr's choice of entrance music: Biscuits & Gravy. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steward
vs
James Jr

182 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Steward !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba James Jr!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from James Jr misses.
Steward dodges the punch combination from James Jr.
Steward jabs James Jr right on the nose. James Jr blinks but takes it well.
Steward punishes James Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
Sloppy strikes from James Jr. Those never looked like landing.
A solid body kick from Steward .
James Jr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Steward .

Steward gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Steward is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Steward tries for a takedown but James Jr manages to get underhooks.
Steward drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Steward . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steward comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Steward is working for takedown but James Jr is calmly controlling the position for now.

Steward pulls guard successfully.

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

James Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steward looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
James Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Steward is proving a slippery customer.

That's two 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 Jr wants to sweep here but Steward controlling him for the moment.

James Jr manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Steward tries for a takedown but James Jr manages to get underhooks.
Steward is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but James Jr is defending well.

Steward pulls guard effortlessly.
James Jr won't allow Steward to get back to his feet.
James Jr wants to stand but Steward has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James Jr is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steward manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

Steward controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James Jr wants to clinch up but Steward keeps it at a distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Steward .

James Jr closes the distance and pushes Steward back into the cage.
Steward connects with a nasty looking knee right to James Jr's face.

Steward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Steward does no damage.
A punch combination from James Jr misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
James Jr on the wrong end of a nice hook.
James Jr walks forward, straight into a front kick from Steward .
Darren Steward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Steward clinches.

Steward pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steward controlling the position.
Steward 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Steward has a closed guard, preventing James Jr from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steward pulls James Jr in close to his closed guard and prevents James Jr from doing any damage or advancing position.

Steward has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. James Jr is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steward changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James Jr fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Steward misses with a wild body shot.

James Jr gets tackled into the cage by Steward . Steward maintains the clinch.
James Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Steward .
James Jr looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steward is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James Jr can do to turn this around?
James Jr is trying to push Steward away but Steward has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Steward crunches a lovely knee into James Jr's ribcage.
Steward cracks James Jr with a nice body shot.
James Jr is breathing heavily.
Steward is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Steward . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steward .
Steward lands a shot to the body.

Steward manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steward clinches up with James Jr and pushes him back against the cage.

Steward manages to break the clinch.
Steward lands with a right hand.
Steward scores with a shot to the body.

Steward moves into the clinch.
Steward stalls.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Steward presses James Jr against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Steward breaks from the clinch.

Steward has James Jr up against the cage in a clinch.

Steward decides to pull guard.
James Jr wants to stand and escape but instead Steward has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Steward stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Steward lands a big head kick that sends James Jr tumbling to the mat! Steward takes a step backwards and waves James Jr back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Bubba James Jr has been cut.
James Jr blocks a head kick by Steward .

Steward lands a big head kick that sends James Jr tumbling to the mat! Steward takes a step backwards and waves James Jr back to his feet - he wants the finish!

James Jr is rocked!
Darren Steward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steward steps into range and unloads a brutal right left combo! James Jr is out on his feet! Steward sets himself and nearly takes James Jr's head off with a straight right, sending him crashing to the mat! Wow, that was nasty... but awesome! Wooo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Darren Steward !