PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rand James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slater comes to the cage accompanied by Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Slater
vs
James

194 cm
28
255 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

191 cm
27
290 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rand James!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater scores with a hook.
Slater throws a quick inside leg kick.
Slater bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of James's head.
James walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Slater throws out a powerful jab.
Slater misses with a telegraphed body shot

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Slater is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Slater manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Slater keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James pushing down on Slater's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
James is looking to advance position but Slater won't allow it.
Slater is trying to stand up here but James is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater trying to control from the bottom.
James tries to pass the half guard into mount. Slater knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

James is working for a kimura but Slater is defending it quite comfortably.
Slater wants to get back to his feet.
Slater trying to control but James postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slater is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Slater trying to control but James postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

James is looking for a kimura here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with James in particular looking to stall.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Slater is looking to improve his position.
Slater looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Slater is defending against the submission attempts here by James.
James is stalling here. Slater is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! James seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Slater has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
James is not content to let Slater control the position.
James is trying to get back to half guard.
Slater wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James wants to control but Slater postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Slater's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
James is staying active underneath Slater, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Slater dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Slater defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
Jack Slater seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James shoots in but Slater avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Slater is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Slater circles away and we're back to standing.
Jack Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rand James.
Slater throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Slater walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. James checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Slater.
James misses with a head kick.
Slater misses the shot to the body.
Slater walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. James checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
James staying out of range there.
Slater throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Slater swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Jack Slater is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Slater.
James tries to move into range but Slater moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
James lands a nice looking body kick.
Slater just misses with a punch to the body.
Slater swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Slater misses with a looping left.
Slater connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Slater works over James's head and body with a nice combination.
James moves forwards but Slater connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Slater, right into the meat.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Slater. Slater obviously looking to wear him down.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Slater here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

James gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slater keeps working.
Slater keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
James trying to control the pace.
Slater won't allow James to pass to mount.
James trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Slater is trying to get back to full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rand James wasn't active enough on the ground.
Slater throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Slater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Slater throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
Slater misses with a looping right.
Slater misses the jab.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Slater scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater cracks James with a right hand to the side of the head.
Slater throws a big shot that misses.
Slater throws a hook but James blocks it.
Slater throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rand James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, jab by Slater - just one landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James avoids the head kick by Slater.
Slater tries a head kick but it misses.
Slater swings widly with a right hand

and James counters with a shoot takedown. Slater fights it but they end up in guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Slater is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James looking to pass the guard.
Slater is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Slater dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Slater tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jack Slater is winning the standup battle so far.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Slater pinned against the cage. Slater gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Slater connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Slater looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Slater swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Slater.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slater.
Slater will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A decent looking cross lands there for Slater.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Slater goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A lazy left from Slater finds it's target.
Slater scores with a jab to the jaw.
Slater rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slater wants to get back to his feet.
Slater on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Slater tries to get out of the position.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Slater wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
James is looking to advance position but Slater won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James thows a huge punch but Slater dodges it nicely.
Slater is trying to control but James manages to pass to mount!
James with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

James working for a submission but Slater is keeping him at bay.
James wants to take Slater's back but he can't do it this time.
James wants to control the pace but Slater is squirming around nicely.
Slater is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

James goes for an armbar but Slater turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Slater.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Slater is proving a slippery customer.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slater is one step ahead there.
Slater slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rand James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Slater manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Slater, under a barage of strikes from James.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Slater trying to control but James postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

James is trying to work for a kimura but Slater is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jack Slater.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Slater, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Slater!
A relieved looking Jack Slater thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.