PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Flaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Flaim
vs
Knuckles

173 cm
22
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, JP Flaim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dick Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flaim fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knuckles throws a nice looking combination but Flaim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Knuckles misses with an uppercut.
Flaim shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knuckles as he jumps to the side.
Knuckles throws a lazy right hand but Flaim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Knuckles takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Flaim shoots in for a double leg but Knuckles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JP Flaim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckles misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles misses with an uppercut. Flaim saw that one coming.
Knuckles throws a series of punches but Flaim avoids them all with ease.
Knuckles throws a jab when Flaim was well out of range.
Knuckles misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd cheers as Knuckles lands an impressive looking overhand right. Flaim doesn't seem phased though.
Flaim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that Flaim avoids nicely.
Flaim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knuckles.

Flaim scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Flaim wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knuckles, who protects the arm well.
Knuckles tries to escape but Flaim is in control.

Flaim swings around for an armbar but Knuckles sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Flaim's guard.

Flaim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Knuckles would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Flaim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knuckles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knuckles wants to pass the guard but Flaim is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knuckles is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Knuckles would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Flaim is looking for a triangle here but Knuckles uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Flaim is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flaim is trying to improve his position.

Knuckles stands up and beckons Flaim to his feet.
Knuckles lands an overhand right.

It looks like JP Flaim has been cut.
Knuckles throws a lazy right hand but Flaim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Knuckles looks to land a combination but Flaim avoids it well.
Knuckles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knuckles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Flaim manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Flaim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Knuckles pinned against the cage. Knuckles gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flaim blocks a jab.
Flaim looks for a takedown but Knuckles sprawls well.
Knuckles lands with a straight right. Flaim didn't see that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Flaim ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Knuckles connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Knuckles dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JP Flaim's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Flaim walks into a straight right hand from Knuckles.
Flaim keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knuckles.
Flaim uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knuckles.
Knuckles bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dick Knuckles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flaim ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Knuckles works Flaim's body with a nice hook.
Knuckles might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flaim ducks under a wild hook from Knuckles.
Knuckles misses with a looping right.
Knuckles misses with a body shot.
Knuckles works Flaim's body with a nice hook.
Nice body punch from Knuckles.
Flaim slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Flaim circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knuckles throws a hook but Flaim avoids it easily.
Flaim ducks under a wild hook from Knuckles.
Knuckles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knuckles misses with a series of wild punches.
Knuckles scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Flaim walks into a straight right hand from Knuckles.
Knuckles looks to land a combination but Flaim avoids it well.
Knuckles jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dick Knuckles seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knuckles drops Flaim with a beautiful combination! Flaim stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Knuckles is looking for the KO!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
Knuckles has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flaim ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A lazy left from Knuckles finds it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Knuckles as he connects with a hook.
Knuckles tries to bum rush Flaim with a series of wild strikes but Flaim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Flaim slips a straight right by Knuckles.
A punch combination from Knuckles misses.
Knuckles misses with a hook.
Knuckles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Knuckles misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knuckles keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Flaim slips a jab from Knuckles.
A punch combination from Knuckles misses.
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
Knuckles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Knuckles throws a right hand that Flaim ducks under and follows up with a left that Flaim also avoids with ease.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Flaim shoots in and drives through. Knuckles sprawls well.
Flaim slips a straight right by Knuckles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Flaim.
Knuckles throws a body punch but Flaim moves out of range.
A big right from Knuckles misses.

Flaim shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Knuckles tries to kick Flaim off but Flaim keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Flaim is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

Dick Knuckles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JP Flaim's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Knuckles loads up on a big right hand but Flaim slips the punch.
Knuckles looks to throw the jab but Flaim is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flaim walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flaim bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knuckles misses with an uppercut. Flaim saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
A big right from Knuckles misses.
Dick Knuckles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knuckles throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Flaim dodges the punch combination from Knuckles.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Knuckles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Flaim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Knuckles throws a hook to the side of Flaim's head but Flaim sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

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.
Knuckles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knuckles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knuckles bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Flaim's head backwards.
Knuckles misses with a hook.
Knuckles just misses with a punch to the body.
Knuckles swinging wilding here.
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
Flaim on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Knuckles throws a body punch but Flaim moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
Flaim staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles throws out a loose jab but Flaim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knuckles stuffs the takedown.
Knuckles throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Knuckles throws a lazy right hand but Flaim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Flaim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knuckles.
Knuckles looks to throw the jab but Flaim is out of range.
Knuckles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Knuckles, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Knuckles swings for the body but Flaim moves out of range.
Knuckles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four 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.
Flaim closes the distance and clinches up with Knuckles, looking for a takedown. Flaim pushes Knuckles against the cage but Knuckles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JP Flaim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Knuckles misses.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dick Knuckles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knuckles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Flaim ducks under a wild hook from Knuckles.
Flaim slips a straight right by Knuckles.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knuckles misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
JP Flaim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knuckles throws a big shot that misses.
A punch lands to the side of Flaim 's head but he takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Knuckles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knuckles 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Knuckles!