PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Atwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claire James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen angry cats talking as his entrance music. Claire James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Atwater
vs
James

189 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zack Atwater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Claire James!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to bum rush Atwater with a series of wild strikes but Atwater uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James misses with the combination.
James tries to bum rush Atwater with a series of wild strikes but Atwater uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Atwater drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Atwater misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
James prevents Atwater from improving position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Atwater has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atwater in side control lands a decent elbow.
James tries to escape but Atwater is in control.
Atwater controlling from side mount.
Atwater knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Check out the look on Atwater's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Atwater stands up and beckons James to his feet.
James swinging wildly here.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atwater tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Atwater goes for a double leg but James avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as James continues to drive forward.
Atwater tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Atwater went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
James misses with a wild combination.
Atwater avoids a punch combination nicely.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from James does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to bum rush Atwater with a series of wild strikes but Atwater uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Atwater has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a series of strikes. Atwater will be more careful next time no doubt.
Atwater is breathing heavily.
Atwater throws a leg kick that misses.
James swinging wildly here.
Atwater throws a big counter combination but James scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James leaves Atwater with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Atwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atwater shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from James does no damage.
Claire James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Atwater circles away quickly and effectively.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Atwater.
Atwater was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James stuffs the takedown.
James is looking for the big counter here.
Atwater looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Atwater avoids a punch combination nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claire James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claire James's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Atwater looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for James!
James is trying to buck Atwater off.
Atwater cracks James with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atwater stands up and beckons James to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James throws a series of punches but Atwater avoids them all with ease.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Atwater circles away quickly and effectively.
James throws a combination that misses
and Atwater counters with a one-two to the body.
Some wild striking there from James.
Atwater shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Atwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Atwater looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Atwater tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but James defends well and Atwater ends up having to push James into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Atwater misses with a takedown
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Atwater backing up. Atwater nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Atwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from James does no damage.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Atwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Atwater appears to be looking for a big counter.
A combination from James does no damage.
James throws a series of punches but Atwater avoids them all with ease.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Atwater counters with a body kick that stops James in his tracks momentarily.
Atwater fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Atwater has a takedown stuffed.
Atwater tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James lands a two punch combo.
James looks to land a combination but Atwater avoids it well.
Atwater tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James swinging wildly here.
Zack Atwater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Atwater gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atwater wants to stall.
Atwater gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
James is trying to force a seperation but Atwater has the dominant position.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atwater tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
Claire James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Atwater tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claire James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Claire James's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Atwater shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Atwater's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Atwater shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A right-left combo lands from James.

It looks like Zack Atwater has been cut.
James misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James lands a left and a right that send Atwater crashing to the mat, dazed. James thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
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 misses with a two punch combination.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Atwater went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Atwater shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Atwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from James does no damage.
James lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
James lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Atwater has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Atwater tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from James does no damage.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.

Atwater closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Atwater is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to stand.
James is not content to let Atwater control the position.

James makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
James throws a combination. Atwater tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
James throws a series of punches but Atwater avoids them all with ease.
James looks to land a combination but Atwater avoids it well.
Atwater looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atwater showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
James scores with a three punch combo!
Atwater fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by James!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from James.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
James stuffs the takedown.
James tries to bum rush Atwater with a series of wild strikes but Atwater uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Atwater appears to be looking for a big counter.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atwater shoots in but no luck this time.
James throws a right and a left that Atwater avoids nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Atwater on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Atwater darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Atwater into the cage.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Atwater is looking to counter the offense by James and move into the clinch.
Zack Atwater has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Atwater throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claire James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claire James!
Claire James bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.