PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Herbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Herbert
vs
Jones

172 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Herbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigo Jones!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Herbert closes the distance and clinches up with Jones, looking for a takedown. Herbert pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Herbert falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Herbert working a defensive guard here.
Jones passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Herbert wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Herbert is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
Jones throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Herbert is trying to get back to full guard.
Herbert is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herbert is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Herbert tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Herbert shoots and misses
and Jones counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Herbert is breathing heavily.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Herbert tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Herbert won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Herbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Herbert some visible discomfort.
Herbert can't do much from the bottom here.
Herbert takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Jones trying to control the position but Herbert is working away.

Jones decides to stand back up. Jones steps back and let's Herbert get back to his feet.
Jones shoots and misses

and Herbert counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herbert trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herbert working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Herbert is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Herbert stands up and waves to Jones to follow him.
Mike Herbert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Rodrigo Jones has been cut.
Herbert misses with a takedown attempt

and Jones moves into the clinch.
Jones wants a takedown but no success here.

Herbert pulls Jones into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones preventing the sweep.

Herbert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Herbert lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herbert with the ground and pound from mount.
Herbert looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Herbert lands a nice shot to the head.
Herbert with a couple of short strikes.
Herbert postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jones looks a forlorn figure.
Jones tries to reverse the position but Herbert maintains control.
Jones tries to hold on but Herbert pushes him away.
Jones sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Jones trying to control but Herbert postures up.
Jones makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones pulls Herbert in close to prevent any damage.
Jones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jones passes to full mount!
A nice elbow there by Jones.

Jones with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Jones working for a guillotine from mount but Herbert is in no mood to give up.
Herbert really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Jones's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Herbert tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.

Jones manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Herbert.

Jones clinches up with Herbert and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Herbert shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Herbert stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.

Jones pulls Herbert into guard.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Herbert decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Herbert tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Herbert manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herbert seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Herbert not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Herbert working Jones over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to control but Herbert is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jones is staying active underneath Herbert, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Herbert connects with a nice short shot to Jones's temple.

Herbert is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Herbert sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
Herbert takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rodrigo Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herbert tries to pass to full mount but Jones defends it.
Herbert wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Herbert missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Herbert is thwarting Jones's attempts to control the position.
Herbert throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones manages to get to full guard.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Herbert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Herbert postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jones is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Herbert, into his guard.
Jones is stalling in the full guard.
Herbert wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Herbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herbert wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Herbert is on top in guard.
Herbert preventing the sweep.
Herbert advances to half guard.
Herbert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Nice strikes from Herbert there.
Jones on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones taking some punishment here, with Herbert in his half guard.
Herbert trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
Herbert scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Herbert looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Herbert works his foot free and advances to mount.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herbert working Jones over with strikes here.
Herbert dominating with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Herbert working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Herbert dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Jones's cut.
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!

Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Herbert gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Herbert.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Jones has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Jones looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Herbert really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Herbert is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones manages to capitalize on a mistake by Herbert to take his back!
Herbert trying to get back to his feet but Jones is in full control for now.
Herbert can't escape the position.
Herbert rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Herbert is looking to improve his position.
Jones lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jones performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Herbert trying to control but Jones postures up.

That's two 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.
Herbert moves into full guard.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jones working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Herbert's head.
Jones working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Herbert looking for a sweep. Not yet Herbert, not yet.

Herbert pushes Jones off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Jones.
Herbert manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents Herbert from improving his position.
Herbert is trying is best to control the position here.
Herbert wants to get back to full guard.
Herbert is doing well to control the position and prevent Jones from advancing to side control.
Herbert is pressing down on Jones's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Herbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones scoring with some ground and pound.
Jones wants to control from the top but Herbert keeps moving.
Herbert throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Herbert is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jones advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herbert tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Herbert's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Herbert tries to improve position but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Herbert tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Herbert is trying to control but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Herbert wants to get back to full guard but Jones has passed into side control.
The referee warns Herbert that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jones 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

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