PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Saunds (ranked 0 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.

Jones
vs
Saunds

191 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Falcon Clothing

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 Rio de Janeiro, Mike Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Saunds!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Saunds misses.
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.
Saunds misses with a wild body shot.
Saunds looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
No joy there for Saunds, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saunds misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saunds lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Saunds throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Saunds throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunds throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Saunds.

Jones shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throwing shots but Saunds is blocking nicely.
Jones prevents Saunds from standing back up.

Jones is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jones seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jones stalling away here and it's allowed Saunds to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones wants to control from the top but Saunds keeps moving.
Jones really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saunds is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones advances to half guard.
Saunds is looking to control Jones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saunds avoid being mounted?
Jones wants to take a breather but Saunds is having none of it.

Jones is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Saunds sees it coming and defends easily.
Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saunds is looking to escape.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Saunds pushes Jones off and gets back to his feet.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saunds.
Saunds throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saunds throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunds fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Jones shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Jones wants to work for an arm triangle but Saunds is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saunds lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
Saunds misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saunds defending well as Jones loads up on a big left hand.
Mike Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saunds closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horrible takedown by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Saunds which made him look bad.
Saunds misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunds looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saunds tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunds throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saunds tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Saunds throws a right and a left that Jones avoids nicely.
Saunds lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jones at a distance.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saunds looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Saunds looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saunds looks to land a combination. Jones sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Saunds throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Saunds as Jones shoots in.

Jones closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Saunds is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Jones has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Jones goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saunds rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Jones's guard! Nice work there by Saunds!
Saunds preventing the sweep.
Saunds wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing Saunds from standing up.
Saunds trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saunds throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Saunds looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Saunds fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saunds looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheers as Saunds lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jones doesn't seem phased though.
No joy there for Saunds, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saunds misses with the combination.
Saunds throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A bone on bone clash there as Jones blocks the leg kick.
Saunds throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Saunds scores with a four punch combination!
Joe Saunds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A jab from Saunds misses.
Saunds throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jones.
A shot to de liver by Saunds. Beautiful body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Saunds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jones is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saunds's half guard.
Saunds really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Saunds is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saunds trying to control here.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Saunds is working away.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura but Saunds is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunds blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jones.
Jones prevents Saunds from standing back up.
Saunds is in trouble now - Jones has advanced to mount!
Saunds has given up his back here. Will Jones look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Saunds controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

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.

Jones tightening his grip on Saunds, looking for the choke.

Jones is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Jones is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Saunds defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunds has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Saunds trying to control but not successfully.
Jones throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Jones trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saunds trying to get back to his feet but Jones is in full control for now.

Saunds fending off the submission attempt from Jones.
Jones controlling from the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jones is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Saunds knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Saunds for a finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jones 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

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