PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zedicus Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones's entrance music is Heroes. A fine choice. 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.

Jones
vs
Murdock

168 cm
20
135 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
146 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zedicus Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murdock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab from Jones.

Jones gets the takedown into side control.
Jones wants to take a breather but Murdock manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Jones.
Jones is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet but Jones is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jones throws and elbow that misses. Murdock uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Murdock!
Jones 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.
Murdock won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Jones trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Murdock preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Murdock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.
Jones connects with a nice looking jab.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murdock wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Murdock is looking to clinch.
Matt Murdock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Jones landing strikes from the mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Jones there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock blocking the ground and pound.
A nice elbow there by Jones.
Murdock holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jones tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jones misses with some ground and pound and Murdock recovers position to half guard.
Murdock looks like he's trying to stand up.

Jones is looking for a kimura but Murdock is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jones to get the leverage.
Murdock is trying to stand up here but Jones is controlling him well.
Jones is trying to control. Murdock wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to control but Murdock is keeping him busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murdock tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murdock to the ground. Murdock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zedicus Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, jab by Murdock - just one landing.
Murdock tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Murdock tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.

Jones feints and as Murdock raises his hands in defense, Jones changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Murdock scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Murdock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick misses from Jones.
Murdock throws a shot to the body.

Murdock gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jones trying to control but Murdock is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murdock swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Jones drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Murdock dives on top into guard.

Jones working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murdock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murdock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Murdock gets to his feet - Jones follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zedicus Jones dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murdock lands with a kick to the temple. Jones shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Jones closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Murdock squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jones lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Jones goes for an armbar but Murdock turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Murdock.
Murdock is looking to stand up but Jones won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Murdock wants to stand but Jones is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jones working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Jones working for a triangle but Murdock defends it easily.
Murdock tries to stand but Jones is controlling from the bottom.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murdock decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murdock throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Matt Murdock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murdock prevents it.
Murdock gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jones.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zedicus Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murdock unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jones lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Jones tightens his grip and picks Murdock up, before dumping him to the ground. Murdock manages to land in guard.

Jones drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Murdock manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jones has Murdock in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones wants to sweep here but Murdock controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Murdock is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jones Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Murdock's back instead.
Murdock holding both Jones 's hands and preventing any damage.
Jones throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Murdock!
Jones punches the canvas rather than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zedicus Jones dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jones gets a takedown into half guard.
Murdock is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jones wants to control but Murdock is keeping him busy.
Well, if Jones is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Jones wants to control but Murdock is keeping him busy.
Murdock tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Jones is working for a kimura but Murdock is defending it quite comfortably.
Jones throwing shots but Murdock is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Matt Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murdock throws a jab when Jones was well out of range.
No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.
Murdock looks to clinch

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Murdock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murdock is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jones is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Murdock reverses the position - he's now on top in Jones's guard.
Zedicus Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones controls Murdock momentarily but Murdock frees himself.
Matt Murdock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Murdock!
Jones putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Jones is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Murdock has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Murdock!
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jones is proving hard to escape from.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Murdock is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jones Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Murdock's back instead.
Jones is striking from the back but Murdock escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Murdock looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murdock is not content to let Jones control the position.
Murdock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jones.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murdock moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Jones uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murdock.
Jones lands with a straight right. Murdock didn't see that one coming.
Murdock tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zedicus Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zedicus Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zedicus Jones!