PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyson James (ranked 1410 p4p, 66 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 1850 p4p, 78 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Fire

185 cm
29
265 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

209 cm
19
290 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyson James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James goes for a double leg but Fire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fire continues to drive forward.
Fire with the counter takedown but James avoids it easily.
James has his takedown stuffed

and Fire counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Fire just content to control the position.
Fire tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Fire lands an elbow.
James is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fire controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Fire wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
James wants to control but Fire is keeping busy.
Fire wants to pass to mount but James is defending the position.
James tries to roll over but Fire keeps him under control.
Fire not doing much here.

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 is controlling Fire's position as best he can from this difficult position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fire!

James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James trying to control the position but Fire is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to take a breather but Fire manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for James.
Fire seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James throws a strike but Fire rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fire looking to pass the guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Fire working his ground and pound in the gym.
Fire trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fire looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fire throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spinning Fire will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fire circles away.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but James defends it well.
Tyson James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fire changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fire stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fire wants it to stay on the feet.
And Fire tries to counter it with a takedown but James pushes his down on his head and steps out.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fire's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James tries to stand but Fire is controlling from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fire works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fire wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James trying to control but Fire is working from the bottom.
Fire has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
Fire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
James looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tyson James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
James trying to control from Fire's half guard. Fire has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Fire 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.
Fire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James trying to control but Fire is working from the bottom.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fire can do to turn this around?
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fire is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fire utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fire swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fire keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And Fire tries to counter it with a takedown but James pushes his down on his head and steps out.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James looks for a takedown but Fire sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Fire with the counter takedown but James avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fire sprawls well. Fire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James fails with a takedown attempt.
Fire feints the counter takedown.
Fire leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Fire sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fire tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fire pinned against the cage. Fire gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And Fire tries to counter it with a takedown but James pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fire is trying to defend but James finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Fire is defending against the submission attempts here by James.
James wants to take a breather but Fire is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James winds up and cracks Fire with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
James is stalling here. Fire 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 Fire has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Fire throws an elbow but James slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Fire crashes against the mat.
Fire cracks James with an elbow. That is naaassty.
James tries to bench press Fire off him but Fire keeps the position.
Fire is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Fire's best efforts.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fire.
James is trying to maintain the position but Fire is very close to passing his half guard.
Fire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fire sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Fire keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
James desperately trying to maintain half guard.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Fire sits in half guard.

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.
Fire not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fire stuffs the takedown.
Fire tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nice sprawl there from Fire as James shoots in.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but James defends it well.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Fire sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

James drives through with a takedown into Fire's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Spinning Fire.
I think Fire has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tyson James!
Tyson James made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'M THE FUCKING CHAMPION! YOU HAVE TO BRING AN ARMY TO TAKE THIS FROM ME! I'M THE GREATEST EVER'.