PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Orval James (ranked 6003 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Ali Jr (ranked 5861 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Ali Jr

205 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orval James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Muhammad Ali Jr!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ali Jr prevents the takedown attempt.
James tries a body shot but Ali Jr blocks it.

James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ali Jr uses from the top position.
James will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ali Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James pushes Ali Jr off and gets back to his feet.
Ali Jr lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Some wild striking there from Ali Jr.
Ali Jr lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as James backs up against the cage.

It looks like Orval James has been cut.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ali Jr!
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ali Jr counters with a straight right hand.

James fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ali Jr sprawls well initially but James persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

James postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ali Jr to stand up.
James slips a jab and a cross from Ali Jr.
A counter left hand to the body from James misses its target.
Ali Jr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

James is trying to trip Ali Jr. He has hold of a leg but Ali Jr is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. James persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ali Jr is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ali Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali Jr throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Ali Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Ali Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ali Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ali Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
James is looking to counter with a body kick.
Ali Jr scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ali Jr sprawls well. Ali Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Ali Jr lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orval James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.

Ali Jr gets caught napping as James dives in and scores a takedown. Ali Jr manages to retain guard.

Ali Jr manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ali Jr but Ali Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ali Jr looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Orval James's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James gets a takedown into half guard.
James with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ali Jr is trying to stand.
James seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ali Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali Jr is trying to stand up here but James is controlling him well.
James thows a huge punch but Ali Jr dodges it nicely.
Ali Jr is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali Jr circles away.
Ali Jr throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Ali Jr bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Orval James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James gets a double leg takedown into Ali Jr's guard.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ali Jr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

James stands up from Ali Jr's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ali Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Horrible takedown attempt by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Ali Jr, which made it look bad.
A countering left hand to the body from Ali Jr misses.
Ali Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ali Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

James throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ali Jr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. James is in Ali Jr's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ali Jr is breathing heavily.
Ali Jr wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.
James is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Ali Jr is retaining full guard.
James stays in close to Ali Jr's body and controls the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
James tries to clinch up
and Ali Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ali Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Ali Jr looks to land a combination. James sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Muhammad Ali Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Orval James's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

James scores with a takedown into Ali Jr's guard.

Ali Jr uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Muhammad Ali Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.

James forces Ali Jr back against the cage and clinches.
James misses with a punch to the body.
Ali Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Ali Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ali Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ali Jr is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orval James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali Jr is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ali Jr has his back to the cage.
Ali Jr is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ali Jr has his back to the cage.
Ali Jr gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.

James breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ali Jr is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down James rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ali Jr throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
A punch combination from Ali Jr misses.
Ali Jr throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Ali Jr sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Despite the aggression on Ali Jr's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ali Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ali Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, James seems content to control.
James seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ali Jr for as long as he can get away with.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ali Jr is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James stalling.
Ali Jr punching from the bottom.

James postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ali Jr to stand up.
Ali Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James tries for a takedown but Ali Jr sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Good exchange - Ali Jr coming out on top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ali Jr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces James back to the cage. Ali Jr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Orval James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muhammad Ali Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ali Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhammad Ali Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ali Jr 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammad Ali Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, Muhammad Ali Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.