PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luca Rossi (ranked 4396 p4p, 5636 weight class) and Brandon James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rossi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lamu. Brandon James looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Rossi
vs
James

198 cm
22
177
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
178
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luca Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James shoots in and drives through. Rossi sprawls well.

Rossi looking to score a takedown here. James is defending well but Rossi drives through and ends up in James's guard.
James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
James wants to hit a sweep here but Rossi passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for James there!
The referee warns James that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rossi avoids the attempt from James to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi with a couple of short strikes.
James takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rossi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rossi with a couple of short strikes.
James looks winded!
James is looking to get to half guard.
Rossi landing punches.
Rossi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
James is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James taking shots to the head.
Rossi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rossi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rossi breaks from James's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rossi with the ground and pound from mount.
Rossi lands a big shot there that rocks James but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rossi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A nice elbow there by Rossi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rossi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
James tries to lock up and control but Rossi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rossi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rossi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James is in a horrible position here. Rossi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Rossi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, James has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rossi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force James to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so James shrugs it off.
Rossi landing strikes from the mount.
BOOM! Rossi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rossi landing punches.
Rossi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Rossi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rossi gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from James - that landed with a thud.
Rossi is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rossi down to the mat. Rossi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rossi.
Rossi misses with a wild combination.
Rossi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Rossi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rossi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rossi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

James bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rossi circles away quickly and effectively.
Rossi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

James tries to keep at a distance but Rossi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rossi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rossi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rossi stalling against the cage.
Rossi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rossi jumps guard but James stands there with Rossi around his waist. Rossi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Rossi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James avoids the head kick by Rossi.
Rossi throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.

James gets a clinch.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rossi wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

James throws Rossi to one side and escapes!
Luca Rossi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rossi goes for a double leg but James avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as James continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luca Rossi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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 Rossi uses from the top position.

Rossi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Rossi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
James throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rossi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Rossi tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rossi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rossi misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brandon James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rossi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rossi is in James's guard.
Rossi preventing the sweep.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rossi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rossi working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi works over James with some ground and pound from guard.
Luca Rossi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rossi preventing the sweep.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James has momentary wrist control but Rossi slips an elbow through the middle.

Rossi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rossi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rossi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.

Rossi breaks the clinch.
Rossi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
Rossi misses with a series of wild punches.
James tries to counter with a clinch but Rossi shakes him off and moves away.
Rossi throws a leg kick that misses.
Rossi sets himself, and James steps forward looking for the clinch! Rossi avoids it this time.
Luca Rossi is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and James counters with a straight right hand.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Rossi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rossi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rossi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rossi avoids the body shot from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rossi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rossi decides to stand back up. Rossi steps back and let's James get back to his feet.

Rossi moves into the clinch.

James breaks the clinch.

Rossi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rossi throws a big elbow that misses.
Rossi won't allow James to sweep him here.
James trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rossi gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rossi.

Rossi gets the takedown into side control.

James explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Rossi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rossi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Rossi!