PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyres Widforss (ranked 2419 p4p, 1514 weight class) and James King (ranked 199 p4p, 134 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Widforss
vs
King

168 cm
29
150
13 - 15 - 0

170 cm
40
146
37 - 25 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97

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 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyres Widforss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Widforss tries for a takedown but King sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Widforss lands with a hook. King tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Widforss moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick by King misses

and Widforss decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in King's guard.
Widforss slips nicely into half guard.

Widforss is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and King defends it well.
King is looking to control Widforss's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can King avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King controlling the position for now.
Widforss is looking to stall here but King recovers full guard.
King trying to keep a closed guard but Widforss is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widforss wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
King wants to sweep but no luck.
Widforss missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
King pulls Widforss in close to prevent any damage.
Widforss wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
Widforss looking to sit in guard and control but King gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Widforss keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
King is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Widforss is trying to control the position from the bottom.
King must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Widforss keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
Widforss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Widforss looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Widforss looking for subs off his back but King has passed one foot through into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Widforss moves into full guard.
Widforss looking to hit a scissor sweep but King is one step ahead there.
King sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.

Widforss isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. King stacks Widforss on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by King!
King in side control, throwing shots but Widforss defends.
Widforss is trying to get back to half guard.
Widforss wants to control but King postures up.
King wants to control but Widforss is keeping him busy.
Widforss tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but King wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Widforss is trying to work for a sweep but King has mounted him!
Widforss bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
King wants to sweep here but Widforss controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tyres Widforss will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Widforss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Widforss shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as King sprawls well. King wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Widforss gets slowly back to his feet.
Widforss shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Widforss sets himself, and King steps forward looking for the clinch! Widforss avoids it this time.
Widforss misses with a hook. King ducked under it nicely.
A shot to the liver by Widforss. Beautiful body shot.
Widforss takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
King leaves Widforss with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyres Widforss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Widforss getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Widforss dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Widforss digs a good hook to King's body.
Widforss ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
King slaps away a takedown attempt from Widforss, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tyres Widforss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
King throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Widforss attempts a counter takedown but King avoids it well and moves away.
Widforss looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Widforss persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
A little jabbing left from King on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
King throws a series of punches but Widforss moves out of range.
King stuffs the takedown.
King lands with a thumping leg kick.
King lands with an overhand left.
Widforss closes this distance looking for a takedown but King circles away.
King thumps Widforss with a low kick.
Widforss keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Widforss looks to land a right hand but King moved out of range.
Widforss avoids the head kick by King.
Widforss fails to land the takedown.
King swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widforss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
King tries to counter with a clinch but Widforss shakes him off and moves away.
Tyres Widforss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Widforss throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Widforss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Widforss has time to react.
Widforss shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
King misses the shot to the body.
Widforss misses with a takedown attempt
and King connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Widforss misses with a wild combination.
Widforss misses with a straight right.
A big right from Widforss misses.
Widforss swings widly with a right hand
and King counters with a solid body kick.
Widforss misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for King.
Widforss shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
King tries to clinch there but Widforss circles away.
Widforss dives in for a single leg takedown but King sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Widforss wants to break the clinch but can't.
Widforss misses with a hook from the clinch.
King tries to work over Widforss's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
King prevents the takedown attempt.
Widforss looking for a takedown.
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King is leaning against Widforss and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
King can't find room to land a body shot as Widforss controls the action.
King lands with a short shot to the head.
Widforss lands a hook to the side of the head.
King connects with a nasty looking knee right to Widforss's face.
King landing some nice looking knees to the body.
King lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Widforss or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King blocking some punches.
King lands a good knee to the midsection. Widforss won't want to take too many of those.
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!
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
King using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Good body shot from King.
King putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Widforss in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for King.
King prevents Widforss from breaking the clinch.
King landing some nice looking knees to the body.
King lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
King scores a nice knee to the body.
King utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by King.
King lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
King tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
King lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Widforss backwards.
King crunches a lovely knee into Widforss's ribcage.
King lands with a short shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

King closes the distance and pushes Widforss back into the cage.
Widforss can't break the clinch.
Widforss tries a body shot but King blocks it.
King unloads a knee to the mid-section. Widforss lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
King is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by King.
King struggles to land a body shot inside as Widforss controls his hands.
King lands a hook that snaps the head of Widforss backwards.
King lands a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from King.
King using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
King lands a knee to the head.
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!
King lands a right hand.
Widforss goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King lands a body punch in the clinch.
King with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
King lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice body punch from King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King scores with a knee to the head.
King unloads a knee to the mid-section. Widforss lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
King lands a left hand that snaps the head of Widforss backwards.
King can't find room to land a body shot as Widforss controls the action.
James King seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
King lands a knee to the body.
King connects with a nasty looking knee right to Widforss's face.
King lands a body punch in the clinch.
King misses with a body punch.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Widforss.
King lands a knee to the head.
King lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from King.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King lands on the inside with an uppercut.
King misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Widforss tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing Widforss back against the cage.
King scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from King as the two fighters clinch.
Good body shot from King.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Widforss blocks it with crossed arms.
King scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from King.
Nice body punch from King - that landed with a thud.
King lands with a short punch from the clinch.
King lands a nice shot to the body.
King digs a right hand into Widforss's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Widforss's gas tank.
King presses Widforss against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
King lands a nice knee to the body.
King using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Widforss takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from King.
King lands a shoulder strike.
King landing knees to the head.
Widforss is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyres Widforss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is working Widforss over against the cage.
King with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from King.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. King obliges.
King lands with a short shot to the head.
King lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
King lands a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from King - that landed with a thud.
Widforss jumps guard but King turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Widforss tries to pull guard but King forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knees to the body from King.
King scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
King lands a knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, King creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
King connects with a knee to the head.
King lands a good knee to the midsection. Widforss won't want to take too many of those.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, King creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Widforss's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Widforss jumps guard but King turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
King landing some nice looking knees to the body.
King digs a right hand underneath Widforss's ribcage. Widforss let out a lung full of air as it connected.
King lands a nice knee to the body.
King presses Widforss against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
King lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Widforss tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing Widforss back against the cage.
King lands a right hand that snaps the head of Widforss backwards.
Widforss jumps guard but King stands there with Widforss around his waist. Widforss gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Widforss goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
King connects with a nasty looking knee right to Widforss's face.
King lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King lands an uppercut.
King tries a knee to the head but Widforss blocks it.
King tries to land a knee to the head but Widforss blocks with his arms.
Widforss goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
James King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James King!
James King very nearly forgot to thank HELLBENT amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.