PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Amar Ibricic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James James has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Amar Ibricic's chin.

Ibricic
vs
James

194 cm
21
131 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Amar Ibricic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James James!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ibricic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ibricic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ibricic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ibricic is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ibricic avoid being mounted?

Ibricic actively working from the bottom here.
Ibricic looks like he's trying to stand up.
James is nestled in close to Ibricic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ibricic's head.
James working over Ibricic with some ground and pound. Ibricic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
James lands with a punch from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibricic trying to control from the bottom.
Ibricic wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
Ibricic has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ibricic trying to control but James postures up.
James slips a nice elbow through Ibricic's hands, connecting with Ibricic's forehead.
James lands strikes from half guard.
Ibricic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but James scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ibricic blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
Ibricic trying to control but James postures up.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice strikes from James there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
Ibricic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but James scores with a couple of nice shots.
James working the head and body with strikes.
James lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Ibricic is rocked!
Ibricic is looking to improve his position.
Oh Ibricic is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ibricic is breathing heavily.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ibricic seems to have got his legs back now.
Ibricic trying to control here.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ibricic trying to control but James postures up.
Ibricic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
James looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ibricic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
James slips a nice elbow through Ibricic's hands, connecting with Ibricic's forehead.
Ground and pound from James.
James lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. James connects with a nice short shot to Ibricic's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
Ibricic has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James slips a nice elbow through Ibricic's hands, connecting with Ibricic's forehead.
Ibricic taking some punishment here, with James in his half guard.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
James slips a nice elbow through Ibricic's hands, connecting with Ibricic's forehead.
James working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
James is nestled in close to Ibricic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ibricic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James drops an elbow to the side of Ibricic's head.
James slips a nice elbow through Ibricic's hands, connecting with Ibricic's forehead.
Ibricic trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James James dominated that 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.

Ibricic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
Ibricic darts in trying to clinch
and James counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
James avoids the head kick by Ibricic.
Amar Ibricic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James looking to score a takedown here. Ibricic is defending well but James drives through and ends up in Ibricic's guard.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Ibricic's brow.
Ibricic looking to control.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ibricic is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibricic prevents James from getting back to his feet.
James keeping moving, preventing Ibricic from controlling successfully.
James James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ibricic is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ibricic dives into side control.
James is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ibricic connects with a decent elbow.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ibricic has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ibricic misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
James takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ibricic trying to control the position but James is working away.
Ibricic wants to stand but James is controlling his arm.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.

Ibricic is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to get back to his feet but Ibricic is dominant here and he's now got James's back!
James wants to get back to his feet.
James is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ibricic's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
James is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ibricic trying to control momentarily.
James is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibricic is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften James up.
Ibricic tries to get the hooks in deep but James pushed the leg off.
Ibricic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

James showing good submission defense here.
James has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibricic trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Amar Ibricic will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ibricic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Amar Ibricic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James James.

Ibricic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Ibricic sits in half guard.
James is trying to stand up here but Ibricic is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James is not content to let Ibricic control the position.
Ibricic controlling the action here.

Amar Ibricic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Ibricic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ibricic forces James back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is working for takedown but Ibricic is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ibricic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ibricic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James postures up.
James postures up in Ibricic's guard and throws a big left but Ibricic blocks it.
Ibricic is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
Ibricic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ibricic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James cracks Ibricic with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James works over Ibricic with some ground and pound from guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ibricic trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James is working Ibricic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James is working Ibricic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ibricic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibricic looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ibricic working a defensive guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ibricic's head.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James scoring with punches to the head and body.
James landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
James James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

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