PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ray Gatto (ranked 7464 p4p, 591 weight class) and Jolly James (ranked 7351 p4p, 584 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sea of Lies by Symphony X. The key to victory for Ray Gatto has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gatto
vs
James

193 cm
25
253 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
240 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Counter fighter
Good chin

Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ray Gatto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jolly James!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatto moves out of range of the body kick.
Gatto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Gatto looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Gatto throws a right and a left that both miss.

James moves into range and clinches up with Gatto.
James pushes Gatto back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gatto is defending well for now.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gatto is defending well for now.
We've been hearing reports that Gatto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
James stalling in the clinch.

James breaks the clinch.
Gatto wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatto looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Gatto bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ray Gatto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatto misses with a looping left.
James throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James forces Gatto back against the ropes and clinches.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James rushes Gatto and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
James taking a breather.
James is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gatto is keeping busy.
James blocks a body shot from Gatto.
Gatto misses with a body punch.
James slowing the pace effectively.
Gatto wants to stall.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gatto takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gatto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James rushes Gatto and presses him up against the ropes.
James is pushing Gatto up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Gatto was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

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

James breaks the clinch.

James moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

James has managed to clinch.
Gatto misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gatto avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
Good body shot from James.

James breaks from the clinch.

James closes the distance and clinches.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James is stalling here.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James scores with the left hand. Gatto knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Ray Gatto has been cut.

James moves into the clinch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good work by Gatto as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatto is looking to clinch.
James is trying to counter with his kicks.
Gatto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.

James has Gatto up against the ropes in a clinch.
James lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gatto backwards.
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 dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
James connects with a knee to the head.
Gatto tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Gatto back against the ropes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
James effectively controlling the action here.
James is stalling here.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gatto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
James stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

James breaks the clinch.

James closes the distance and pushes Gatto back into the ropes.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
James effectively controlling the action here.

James breaks from the clinch.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gatto, pushing him back against the ropes.
James is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

James breaks the clinch.
Gatto misses with a double jab

and James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by James.
James lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
James is struggling to control the position.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
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 slowing the pace effectively.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gatto, pushing him back against the ropes.
James stalling against the ropes.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

James breaks the clinch.
Gatto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
James fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gatto is out of range.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for James.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gatto tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

James drives through and clinches with Gatto against the ropes.
James with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James lands a shot to the body.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

James closes the distance and pushes Gatto back into the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
James has Gatto pushed against the ropes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

James breaks from the clinch.
Gatto tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gatto is out of range and James settles back down.
Gatto tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gatto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Gatto bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

James clinches with his opponent.
Ray Gatto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jolly James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gatto's brow.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jolly James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Jolly James!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Jolly James!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Jolly James!

Jolly James wins by unanimous decision!
Jolly James decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.