PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Nelson (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.

James
vs
Nelson

185 cm
32
189 lbs
19 - 21 - 0

180 cm
30
199 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gunnar Nelson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson misses with a right hand
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nelson tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.

Nelson tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nelson has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nelson is trying to control but can't.
James prevents Nelson from improving his position.
James lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from James there.
James working over Nelson with some ground and pound. Nelson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nelson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nelson.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James landing with the ground and pound.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James throwing strikes from guard but Nelson blocks nicely.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Nelson looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
James cracks Nelson with a solid left hand.

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
Nelson is pulling down on James's head to control his posture.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James working some strikes from top position.
James passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to pass to full mount but Nelson defends it.
Nelson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of James's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take James's back!
James trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
Nelson missing with strikes from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
Nelson is not going to allow James to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Nelson is persistently looking for the submission but James is defending it well.
James is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nelson misses with punches from the back.

Nelson looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
James has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Nelson.
Nelson lands a shot to the head.
James is trying to get back to his feet but Nelson has full control of the position and if anything, James has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Nelson has his opponent's back but James is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Nelson.
Nelson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nelson wants it to stay on the feet.
Nelson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James misses with a few strikes there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nelson.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Nelson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex 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.

Nelson misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick from Nelson lands but James takes it in his stride.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nelson tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nelson pinned against the cage. Nelson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nelson is looking to clinch.
Nelson connects with a high kick.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nelson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nelson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson leaves James with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alex James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James defending well as Nelson loads up on a big left hand.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Nelson, looking for a takedown. James pushes Nelson against the cage but Nelson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nelson is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nelson wants to clinch.

Nelson clinches.
Nelson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
Nelson struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.

Nelson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nelson avoids a punch combination nicely.
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
James feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nelsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nelson trying to control the position.
James works over Nelson with some ground and pound from guard.

Nelson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alex James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nelson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Nelson's brow.
James working some strikes from top position.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Nelson's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Nelson has momentary wrist control but James slips an elbow through the middle.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James slips nicely into half guard.
Nelson gets full guard.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James lands a couple of elbows.
Nelson is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James cracks Nelson with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James with a nice head shot there.

Nelson is rocked!
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
James forces his way into half guard.
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.
Nelson is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
James lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from James.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nelson is trying to get back to full guard.
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nelson is still in real trouble! Can James finish him?
Nelson is pressing down on James's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson seems to have recovered his senses.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that second round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nelson tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Nelson stuns James with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Nelson lands with an uppercut that bounces James off the cage and back into range.
Nice sprawl there from Nelson as James shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James goes for a double leg but Nelson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nelson continues to drive forward.
Nelson throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nelson defending against the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes there by James.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. Nelson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
James lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James advances to mount.
James cracks Nelson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
James avoids the attempt from Nelson to control.
James is in the full mount, landing strikes.
James landing punches.
James landing strikes from the mount.
Nelson tries to hold on but James postures up.
Nelson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nelson's face.
Nelson is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
James punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson is trying desperately to improve position.
Nelson wants to hold on but James pushes him away.
James prevents Nelson from getting the reversal.
James raining down shots from the mount!
James prevents Nelson from getting the reversal.
James cracks Nelson with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex James!
An out of breath Alex James thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.