PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dee Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Blake
vs
James

187 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dee Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, William James!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James dives in for a single leg takedown but Blake sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
Blake misses with the head strike.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Blake circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Blake. No joy for James on that attempt.
Blake tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dee Blake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blake fails with the takedown.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blake.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Blake tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Blake has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake tries a body shot but James blocks it.
Blake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from James.
James shoots in but Blake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blake as he avoids it easily.
Blake uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from James lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Blake has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Blake and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Blake closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Blake pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blake.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blake sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Blake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blake scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
James looks winded!
James avoids a kick to the body.
Blake is trying hard to land a takedown here. James sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blake.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blake circles away.
Blake tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James tries to clinch but Blake is having none of it.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Blake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Blake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James shoots in but Blake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Blake as James shoots in.
Blake misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Blake scores with a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blake clinches.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Blake has double underhooks.
James tries to pull guard but Blake won't allow it.

Blake's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blake shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
Blake tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dee Blake dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blake looks to land a combination. James sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like William James has been cut.
Dee Blake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Blake or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Dee Blake is winning the standup battle so far.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Blake fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
Blake avoids the head kick by James.
Blake looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.
James checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Blake which made him look bad.

James drives through with a takedown into guard.
James is breathing heavily.

James stands and steps away. Blake gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Blake fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dee Blake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blake fails with a takedown attempt.
Blake shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James moves into the clinch.

Blake jumps into guard, dragging James to the mat.
Blake is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
James trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.

William James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Blake leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blake tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James throws a head kick that misses.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Blake tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Blake takes the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blake decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Blake.
Blake working a defensive guard here.
James postures up in Blake's guard and throws a big left but Blake blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

James stands up and waves to Blake to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but William James will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on William James's cut.
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!

Blake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blake walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
Blake stuffs the takedown.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blake avoids it really well and circles away.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blake throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blake.

James has managed to clinch.
Blake blocks the elbow strike.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Blake after a bit of a struggle.
Dee Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William James.
James can't break the clinch.
Blake tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blake tries to pull guard but James forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Blake breaks the clinch.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

James rushes Blake and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Blake wants a takedown.

James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Blake postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blake prevents James from getting back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
James keeping moving, preventing Blake from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blake stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Blake gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James displaying some good clinch control by pressing Blake up against the cage.
James is trying to pull guard but Blake turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Blake manages to get underhooks.
Blake tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake tries to pull guard but James forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

James manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Blake throwing strikes but missing.
James keeping full guard, as Blake tries to pass.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blake is controlling him.

Blake stands and steps away. James gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Blake moves into the clinch.
Blake has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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 Dee Blake.
I think Blake has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!