PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claire James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeljko Mavrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James's entrance music is angry cats talking. A fine choice. Claire James could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zeljko Mavrovic's chin.

James
vs
Mavrovic

185 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Claire James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zeljko Mavrovic!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mavrovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Mavrovic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mavrovic lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear James down.

Mavrovic has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Mavrovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
James prevents the takedown attempt.

Mavrovic turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
James's coaches at Hilo Fight lab have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Mavrovic taking a breather here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mavrovic working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mavrovic decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Mavrovic.
As Mavrovic looks to move away, James throws a big counter combo bu Mavrovic just gets out of the way.
James misses with the combination.
Mavrovic throws a leg kick but James sees it coming and checks it nicely.
James misses with the combination.
James throws out a loose jab but Mavrovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
James throws a nice looking combination but Mavrovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mavrovic slips a jab and a cross from James.
Mavrovic throws a counter combo.
James is breathing heavily.
Mavrovic misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A leg kick checked by James.

Mavrovic clinches.

James pulls guard effortlessly.
Mavrovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mavrovic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Mavrovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James blocks a head kick by Mavrovic.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mavrovic.
Mavrovic moves out of range as James strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as James blocks the low kick.
Mavrovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mavrovic misses with a series of wild punches.
James seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Mavrovic fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging James to the ground. Mavrovic is now in James's guard.
Mavrovic throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
James wants to stand but Mavrovic is controlling the position.

Mavrovic stands up and waves to James to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic tries a head kick but it misses.

Mavrovic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in James's half guard.
James is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mavrovic scores with a couple of nice shots.

Mavrovic stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows James to get to his feet.
James misses with the combination.
Mavrovic darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Mavrovic into the cage.
Mavrovic shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Mavrovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Claire James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeljko Mavrovic.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeljko Mavrovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mavrovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mavrovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mavrovic shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James throws a right hand that Mavrovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Mavrovic also avoids with ease.
Mavrovic is looking for the big counter here.
James blocks a head kick by Mavrovic.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Mavrovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mavrovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Claire James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeljko Mavrovic.
James swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mavrovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mavrovic throws a head kick that misses
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Mavrovic drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Mavrovic.
Mavrovic tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mavrovic to keep the fight standing.

Mavrovic breaks from the clinch.
Mavrovic is looking to land body kicks.
James throws a series of punches but Mavrovic moves out of range.
Mavrovic throws a push kick but James slaps the foot to one side.
Mavrovic throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
Mavrovic looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic misses with a low kick.
Mavrovic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.
James loads up on a big right hand but Mavrovic slips the punch.
Claire James is winning the standup battle so far.
James misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James catches Mavrovic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mavrovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mavrovic manages to break the clinch.

Mavrovic pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.

Mavrovic breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic tries to work over James's front leg with a kick but James checks it.
Mavrovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James looks to throw the jab but Mavrovic is out of range.
Mavrovic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Mavrovic closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
James fails to pull guard.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mavrovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mavrovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mavrovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mavrovic avoids the body shot from James.
Mavrovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James avoids the head kick by Mavrovic.
Mavrovic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
Mavrovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Mavrovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Claire James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Mavrovic pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mavrovic. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Mavrovic jumps guard and drags James to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Mavrovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mavrovic controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
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 Claire James will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

James fails to land with a series of punches.
Mavrovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from James misses.
Mavrovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mavrovic misses with a right hand
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Mavrovic backing up. Mavrovic nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
James checks the leg kick.
James appears to be looking for a big counter.
James misses with a wild combination.
Mavrovic looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Mavrovic clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mavrovic breaks the clinch.
Mavrovic misses with a head kick.
James seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mavrovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mavrovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
A head kick misses from Mavrovic.
James with a body punch. A glancing blow.
James misses with an uppercut.
Mavrovic slips a jab and a cross from James.
Nice sprawl there from James as Mavrovic shoots in.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mavrovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A low kick from Mavrovic misses
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mavrovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
James is looking to counter punch.
Mavrovic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mavrovic.
Mavrovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Claire James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeljko Mavrovic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mavrovic has taken the fight to the clinch.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Mavrovic pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mavrovic moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mavrovic pulls James into guard.
Mavrovic striking from the bottom.
Mavrovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Mavrovic has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
Mavrovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mavrovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mavrovic seems keen to control James's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mavrovic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

James stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James throws a nice looking combination but Mavrovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mavrovic scores with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claire James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claire James!
Claire James decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.