PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joshua James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siggi Hemerijckx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Siggi Hemerijckx has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
Hemerijckx

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Octagon Food Supplies

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joshua James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Siggi Hemerijckx!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

James get's back to his feet.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hemerijckx actively working from the bottom here.
James wants to free his trapped foot but Hemerijckx is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hemerijckx wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with James in particular looking to stall.
Hemerijckx is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hemerijckx is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hemerijckx avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
James controlling the action here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hemerijckx is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Hemerijckx circles away and we're back to standing.
James is breathing heavily.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Hemerijckx circles away.
Hemerijckx shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and James counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hemerijckx!
Hemerijckx really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

James gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to clinch up.
James shoots and misses

and Hemerijckx counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hemerijckx. Hemerijckx controls from within his opponent's guard.
James trying to control the position here.
James wants to stand and escape but Hemerijckx is having none of it.
Hemerijckx tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hemerijckx trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James controlling Hemerijckx's posture.
James trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemerijckx wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
James displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Hemerijckx drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Hemerijckx sits in half guard.
James holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Hemerijckx is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so James is just riding it out for now. Hemerijckx eventually gives up the hold.
James preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hemerijckx wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James pushes Hemerijckx off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hemerijckx takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James fails with the takedown

and Hemerijckx counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joshua James will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

James tries for a takedown but Hemerijckx circles away easily

and Hemerijckx counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hemerijckx stands up and waves to James to follow him.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Siggi Hemerijckx has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hemerijckx is breathing heavily.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to mount his opponent but Hemerijckx defends it.
Hemerijckx wants to sweep but James has passed to side control!
James works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James cracks Hemerijckx with a big right hand but Hemerijckx just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hemerijckx tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but James presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hemerijckx is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hemerijckx tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hemerijckx wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two 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.
James trying to control but Hemerijckx is having none of it.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hemerijckx slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hemerijckx tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
Hemerijckx moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
James wants to control from the top but Hemerijckx keeps moving.
Hemerijckx keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hemerijckx looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hemerijckx throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hemerijckx is trying to keep James in close.

Hemerijckx looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hemerijckx looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
Hemerijckx keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because James is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
James won't allow Hemerijckx to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hemerijckx working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Hemerijckx is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James wants to control from the top but Hemerijckx keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joshua James just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
James tries for a takedown but Hemerijckx circles away easily

and Hemerijckx counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James wants to improve his position but Hemerijckx is controlling well.
Hemerijckx is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siggi Hemerijckx showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James lands a right hook to the body.
James misses with a head kick.

James scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hemerijckx manages to get to full guard.
James wants to control from the top but Hemerijckx keeps moving.

Hemerijckx is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.

Hemerijckx looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hemerijckx is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemerijckx wants to sweep but no luck.
James stays in close to Hemerijckx's body and controls the position.

Hemerijckx looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hemerijckx 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.
Hemerijckx wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hemerijckx is on top in guard.
Hemerijckx stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hemerijckx wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

James is looking for a triangle but Hemerijckx pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hemerijckx trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hemerijckx is fighting to break James's control of his arms but James is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Hemerijckx postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! James is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hemerijckx, into his guard.
James looking to pass the guard.
Hemerijckx looking for a sweep. Not yet Hemerijckx, not yet.
James works over Hemerijckx with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hemerijckx is on top in guard.
Hemerijckx slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hemerijckx scores with punches from side control.

It looks like Joshua James has been cut.
James is trying to improve his position.
James prevents Hemerijckx from improving position.
Hemerijckx trying to control the position but James is working away.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Hemerijckx keeps moving and retains side control.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hemerijckx's best efforts.
Hemerijckx is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and James reverses the position - he's now on top in Hemerijckx's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James advances position into side control!
Hemerijckx is looking to regain half guard here but James keeps moving and retains side control.
Hemerijckx gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hemerijckx is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
James is thwarting Hemerijckx's attempts to control the position.
James is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hemerijckx manages to get to full guard.

Hemerijckx looking for submissions from the bottom but instead James passes into side control.

James tries for a kimura but Hemerijckx is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siggi Hemerijckx comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hemerijckx has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siggi Hemerijckx!