PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Levi Lynch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lynch
vs
James

199 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Levi Lynch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by James.

Lynch bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

James drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lynch isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. James stacks Lynch 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 James!
James lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lynch can't do much from the bottom here.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lynch is working hard here to advance position.
Lynch is trying to escape the position but James is controlling the position.
Lynch is trying to improve his position.
The referee asks James politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. James prefers to stall for the moment though.

James tries for a kimura but Lynch is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lynch tries to escape but James is in control.

James working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James controls the position.
James tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lynch's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lynch has escaped the position, nice work there.
James happy to just control the position for now.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

James swings around for an armbar but Lynch sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into James's guard.
James seems keen to control Lynch's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynch trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lynch looking to pass the guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Liam James wasn't active enough on the ground.

Lynch gets caught flat footed, as James shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam James dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lynch fails with the takedown

and James counters with a takedown into side control.
James scoring with punches and elbows.
James working the ground and pound.
James taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Lynch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
James works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James controlling the position.
Lynch manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James slows the pace down in half guard.
Lynch has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James passes into side control, despite Lynch's attempt to control the position.
James lands an elbow.
James scoring with punches and elbows.
James working the ground and pound from side control.
Lynch is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on James's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
James connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lynch wants to clinch.
Levi Lynch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
James distracts Lynch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lynch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a couple of digs.
Lynch keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Lynch looking for a sweep. Not yet Lynch, not yet.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Liam James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James landing with the ground and pound.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James advances to half guard.

James decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Liam James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

James shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than James was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

James jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lynch manages to avoid the submission attempt.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lynch can't do much from the bottom here.
Lynch is looking to reverse the position.
Lynch wants to control but James postures up.
Check out the look on James's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
James creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
James landing a few strikes.
Lynch is letting James control him for a moment.

James tries for a kimura but Lynch is defending well.
James is working Lynch over with some ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Lynch's face as James controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch is trying to get back to his feet.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
James tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lynch's legs.

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lynch is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lynch being controlled for a moment.
James prevents Lynch from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
James working the ground and pound.
Lynch can't do much from the bottom here.
James moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lynch wants to control but James postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lynch gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
James controlling from the full mount.
James prevents Lynch from getting the reversal.
James connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
James looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
James takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Levi Lynch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liam James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 25:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 25:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30

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