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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James River (ranked 3959 p4p, 4919 weight class) and Nikola Luke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!
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| 168 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0 |
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160 cm
25
145
0 - 1 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident |
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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James River !
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, Nikola Luke!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luke shoots in looking for a takedown. River tries to sprawl out of it but Luke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. River manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Luke tries to clinch there but River circles away.
Luke throws a quick head kick that skims the top of River 's head.
Luke slips under a jab from River .
River shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Luke is trying to defend but River finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Luke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Luke has recovered full guard.
River is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Luke keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.
River content to stall in guard here.
Luke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. River defends it easily.
Luke looks winded!
River stands and throws Luke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
River is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Luke will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
That's two 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.
River tries for a kimura but Luke is defending well.
Luke manages to get back to half guard.
River prevents Luke from improving his position.
Luke blocking the ground and pound attempt from River .
River performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
River is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Luke defends it well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River controlling the action here.
Luke wants to improve his position but River is controlling well.
River is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Luke trying to control here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
River working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Luke's thigh. Luke counters though and makes it back to full guard.
River sitting in guard here, content to control.
River trying to control the position from guard on top but Luke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
River misses with a series of wild punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
James River dominated that round.
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.
Luke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts River as he jumps to the side.
Luke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
River walks into a stiff left hand from Luke.
River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luke can do to turn this around?
A swing and a miss from River .
The fight stays on the outside here - Luke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
River is looking to counter the offense by Luke and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luke fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and River has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
River misses with a hook
and Luke counters with a slapping leg kick.
Luke is breathing heavily.
River defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Luke.
James River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikola Luke.
That's one minute gone in the round.
River darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
River thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luke's head.
River is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
River keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
River is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
River slows the pace down in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
River is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Luke defends it well.
River throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
River stalling.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is working for a submission of some sort.
Luke wants to get back to full guard.
River wants to pass to mount but Luke is defending the position.
River thows a huge punch but Luke dodges it nicely.
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.
River controlling the pace.
River is looking for a kimura but Luke is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for River to get the leverage.
Luke is defending against the submission attempts here by River .
River uses his free foot to push down on Luke's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Luke.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luke regains half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
James River dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
River rushes Luke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Luke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Luke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Luke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luke tries to score a body lock takedown but River shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luke is trying to pull guard but River has him pressed against the cage.
Luke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luke looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
River misses with a body punch.
Luke blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
River has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Luke uses from the top position.
River escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
River looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Luke passes into half guard.
Luke trying to control from half guard but River is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
River looking for submissions off his back.
River is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Luke's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Luke's back!
Luke covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Luke is keeping busy.
River struggling to land strikes to the head as Luke covers up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River looking for the RNC.
River misses with a punch to the head.
River is persistently looking for the submission but Luke is defending it well.
Luke wants to escape the position.
River is looking for a choke. Luke gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Luke manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Luke stands up over River , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luke wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.
River is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
River looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Luke has picked River up and slammed him! River can't keep hold of the triangle and Luke manages to pass to side control!
Nikola Luke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James River is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luke working the ground and pound.
And that's the end of the fight!
James River showed his dominance in that final round.
Well River 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James River !
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
24% |
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