PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ike James (ranked 1343 p4p, 1669 weight class) and Cyrus Deangelo Queen (ranked 177 p4p, 226 weight class). Queen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Go Hard. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Queen

177 cm
29
177
7 - 2 - 0

189 cm
34
175
22 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ike James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cyrus Deangelo Queen!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James dives in and grabs Queen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Queen pushes down on James's head and hops out.

Queen moves into the clinch.
I was talking to James's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Queen to keep the fight standing.

Queen gets control of James's arms and successfully pulls guard. Queen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Queen's guard.

James is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Queen as he works his way to full guard.
Queen managing to control the position.
Queen can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Queen keeps working.
Queen wants to control but James is keeping busy.
James perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Queen makes his way to full guard, as James worked for a kimura.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Queen.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Queen is retaining full guard.
Queen controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James trying to control but Queen is working from the bottom.
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Queen is adopting a defensive guard.

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and Queen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between Queen's legs - danger averted.
Queen controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Queen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Queen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Queen instigates a clinch.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ike James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James jumps guard but Queen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

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 Queen uses from the top position.
Queen postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
Queen preventing the sweep.
Queen trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Queen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Queen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Queen advances position into side control!

That's four 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.
Queen wants to stand but James has his arm trapped.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Queen in side control, throwing shots but James defends.
Queen wants to stand but James has his arm trapped.
James sneaks back into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Queen wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Deangelo Queen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Queen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

James throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Queen was covering up waiting for the punch and James finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Queen wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Queen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Queen trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Queen trying to move into half guard but instead James has managed to sweep!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.

James is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Queen defends it well.
Queen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. James is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is looking to advance position but Queen won't allow it.
Queen wants to control but James is keeping busy.
Queen moves into full guard.
Queen 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.
James wants to control from the top but Queen keeps moving.
Queen trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

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.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Queen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Queen is retaining full guard.
Queen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Queen is keeping the position for now.
Queen wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Queen sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Queen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looks for a takedown but Queen sprawls well.
James sets himself, and Queen steps forward looking for the clinch! James avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ike James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Queen 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.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Queen scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but James manages to mount him!
Queen is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Queen regains half guard.
Queen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James is looking for a kimura here.
James has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

James working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Queen is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ike James dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Queen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by James.
Cyrus Deangelo Queen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Queen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and James is able to avoid easily.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Queen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Queen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Queen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from James.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ike James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Queen tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.

Queen scores with a takedown into James's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James working a defensive guard here.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Queen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Queen wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Queen tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Queen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
James has a hand on Queen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Queen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Queen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of James's face.
James regains half guard.
Queen is looking to stall here but James recovers full guard.
Queen preventing the sweep.
Queen is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Queen stopping the sweep attempt from James.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Queen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Queen from controlling successfully.
Queen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Queen stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! James throws up his legs and catches Queen in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Queen tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by James! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ike James!
During a confident post fight interview, Ike James thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.