PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saager Dhaliwal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Jones is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Dhaliwal
vs
Jones

194 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saager Dhaliwal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Jones!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dhaliwal moves into the clinch.
Dhaliwal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dhaliwal wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Dhaliwal misses with a wild combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dhaliwal, as that shot connected.
Dhaliwal is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Dhaliwal doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhaliwal lands a nice hook to Jones's body. Jones takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dhaliwal fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dhaliwal moves into the clinch.

Dhaliwal is trying to trip Jones. He has hold of a leg but Jones is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Dhaliwal persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Dhaliwal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dhaliwal looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Dhaliwal from controlling successfully.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dhaliwal is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dhaliwal postures up.
Jones is pulling down on Dhaliwal's head. It's preventing any offense from Dhaliwal, at least for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dhaliwal swinging wilding here.
Dhaliwal throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.

That's two 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.

Dhaliwal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jones is not content to let Dhaliwal control the position.

Dhaliwal is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jones knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jones wants to control but Dhaliwal postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones looks gassed!
Dhaliwal tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Jones is trying to get back to half guard.
Dhaliwal lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dhaliwal working the ground and pound.
Jones defending against the ground and pound.

Dhaliwal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dhaliwal in side control, throwing shots but Jones defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dhaliwal looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jones is avoiding damage well.
Dhaliwal sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Jones is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dhaliwal working the ground and pound but Jones is defending the strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dhaliwal cracks Jones with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Dhaliwal takes the fight into the clinch.
Jones is working for takedown but Dhaliwal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dhaliwal gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Dhaliwal gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Jones regains guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dhaliwal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dhaliwal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dhaliwal with a nice head shot there.
Dhaliwal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dhaliwal postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Dhaliwal scoring with some ground and pound.
Dhaliwal throwing strikes but missing.
Dhaliwal wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Dhaliwal tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Dhaliwal slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saager Dhaliwal dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dhaliwal is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Dhaliwal changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dhaliwal throws a series of punches but Jones avoids them all with ease.
Jones tries for a takedown but Dhaliwal circles away easily
and Dhaliwal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dhaliwal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dhaliwal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saager Dhaliwal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dhaliwal throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Dhaliwal getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Dhaliwal closes the distance and pushes Jones back into the cage.

Dhaliwal lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhaliwal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
Dhaliwal throwing shots but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones won't allow Dhaliwal to pass to mount.
Jones on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dhaliwal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dhaliwal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dhaliwal tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jones knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dhaliwal scores with a takedown into Jones's guard.
Dhaliwal working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dhaliwal trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Dhaliwal scoring with some ground and pound.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Dhaliwal throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dhaliwal throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dhaliwal tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.

Dhaliwal gets a takedown into half guard.
Jones trying to control here.
Jones is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Dhaliwal is staying active.
Dhaliwal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dhaliwal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jones's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal trying to mount his opponent but Jones defends it.
Dhaliwal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dhaliwal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Dhaliwal.
Dhaliwal tries to clinch up.

Dhaliwal gets the takedown into side control.
Dhaliwal is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Jones will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Jones on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Saager Dhaliwal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dhaliwal taking a breather here.
Dhaliwal'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dhaliwal is working Jones over with some ground and pound from side control.
Dhaliwal in side control, throwing shots but Jones defends.
Dhaliwal throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Dhaliwal working the ground and pound but Jones is defending the strikes.
Dhaliwal trying to control the position but Jones is working away.
Jones on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Jones taking a bit of punishment here - Dhaliwal scoring with strikes.
Dhaliwal trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Dhaliwal seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saager Dhaliwal 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. This is the final round!

Dhaliwal tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Dhaliwal lands a lovely overhand right.
Some wild striking there from Dhaliwal.
Dhaliwal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dhaliwal is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Dhaliwal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jones on the side of the head.
Dhaliwal stalks Jones and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jones's face. Jones staggers backwards, shaken.
Dhaliwal tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Jones moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dhaliwal misses with a series of wild punches.
Dhaliwal scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhaliwal looks to land a combination. Jones sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dhaliwal comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Dhaliwal clinches.

Dhaliwal gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Dhaliwal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dhaliwal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dhaliwal wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Dhaliwal content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dhaliwal wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jones taking some punishment here, with Dhaliwal in his half guard.
Dhaliwal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dhaliwal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dhaliwal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dhaliwal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dhaliwal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones controls Dhaliwal momentarily but Dhaliwal frees himself.
Dhaliwal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dhaliwal's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dhaliwal is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Dhaliwal trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Dhaliwal keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jones's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dhaliwal to score with a decent uppercut.
Dhaliwal lands a jab to the head.

Jones gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhaliwal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dhaliwal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Dhaliwal is proving a slippery customer.
Dhaliwal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dhaliwal working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dhaliwal stands up over Jones, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dhaliwal wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Dhaliwal with a nice head shot there.
Dhaliwal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dhaliwal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dhaliwal scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Dhaliwal from controlling successfully.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dhaliwal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dhaliwal doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
A left and a right from Dhaliwal both land. Nice combination.
Dhaliwal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dhaliwal tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dhaliwal lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dhaliwal.

It looks like Tony Jones has been cut.

Dhaliwal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dhaliwal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Dhaliwal trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tony Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dhaliwal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saager Dhaliwal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dhaliwal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:25
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:25
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saager Dhaliwal!