PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Braulio Tomaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin James will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tomaz
vs
James

152 cm
22
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Braulio Tomaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin James!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tomaz tries to land a front kick but James steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tomaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
James throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
James throws a head kick that misses.
Good work by James as he checks the leg kick.
James is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tomaz throws a lazy head kick
and James counters with a big head kick but Tomaz shrugs it off.
Tomaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tomaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tomaz off to one side.
James checks a low kick from Tomaz.

Tomaz drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tomaz 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 Tomaz, into his guard.
Tomaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James stands up from Tomaz's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tomaz drops his hands momentarily and James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

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 lands with a shot to the body.
Tomaz throws a sloppy head kick
and James makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James throws a head kick that misses.
James looks to land a combination but Tomaz avoids it well.
James throws a nice head kick!
James paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

James feints and as Tomaz raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tomaz trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to pass the guard but Tomaz is keeping the position.
Tomaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tomaz is trying to keep James in close.

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.

Tomaz looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tomaz is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin James dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James lands a right hook to the body.
Tomaz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and James decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tomaz's guard.
Tomaz working a defensive guard here.
James won't allow Tomaz to get back to his feet.
James is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tomaz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead James passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is taking a breather. Tomaz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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.
Tomaz is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
James stops Tomaz from getting back to his feet.
James controlling the action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Justin James wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tomaz throws a leg kick that is checked
and James counters with a left to the body.
Justin James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a nice body kick.
James lands with a shot to the body.

Tomaz moves into the clinch successfully.
James tries to circle away but Tomaz has him pinned against the cage.
Tomaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Tomaz has James pushed against the cage.

Tomaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tomaz throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Tomaz's guard.
James has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tomaz is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James preventing the sweep.
James is stalling in the full guard.
Tomaz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin James 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tomaz.
Tomaz swings away with a body shot that misses
and James counters with a nice body kick.
James fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tomaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
James is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tomaz avoids the head kick by James.
Tomaz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
James moves into range and connects with a jab.

Tomaz forces James back against the cage and clinches.

Tomaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomaz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tomaz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tomaz tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Tomaz misses with a combination
and James counters with a body kick that stops Tomaz in his tracks momentarily.
James lands a right hook to the body.
James plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tomaz throws a leg kick that is checked

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

James stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tomaz to get to his feet.
Tomaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a nice combination. Tomaz backs away looking to recover.
James thuds a left hand into Tomaz's body.
James lands a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tomaz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James scores with a body shot.
James lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands with an uppercut that bounces Tomaz off the cage and back into rage.
Tomaz blocks a head kick by James.
James misses with a head kick.
Tomaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
James throws a series of punches but Tomaz avoids them all with ease.
James has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
James lands a jab.
James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tomaz at a distance.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tomaz counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.
Justin James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tomaz scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but James manages to mount him!
Braulio Tomaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tomaz wants to control but James is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin James!