PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Illidan Stormrage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stormrage
vs
Jones

191 cm
19
218 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
24
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Illidan Stormrage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jon Jones!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jones throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch lands to the side of Stormrage 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jones swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Stormrage. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Jones leaves Stormrage with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stormrage swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Jones delivers a nice body kick.
Jones scores with a body shot.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
Stormrage looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stormrage looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stormrage counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Illidan Stormrage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Jones.
Stormrage slows the pace down in half guard.
Stormrage thows a huge punch but Jones dodges it nicely.
Stormrage looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stormrage prevents Jones from standing back up.
Stormrage stalling.

Stormrage is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jones is just riding it out for now. Stormrage eventually gives up the hold.
Stormrage tries to pass to full mount but Jones defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Stormrage has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Jones is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stormrage perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stormrage prevents Jones from standing back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stormrage in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stormrage is thwarting Jones's attempts to control the position.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stormrage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jones looks gassed!
Stormrage not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.

Stormrage shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stormrage trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage looking to pass the guard.
Stormrage's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stormrage stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stormrage scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stormrage controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illidan Stormrage dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stormrage looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Stormrage persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stormrage takes a step back to recover.

Jones gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stormrage to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stormrage thows a big elbow that misses.
Stormrage throws a big right hand that misses.
Stormrage seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stormrage wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stormrage is really struggling to control Jones but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Stormrage controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stormrage trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stormrage controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stormrage loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stormrage is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.
Stormrage trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Illidan Stormrage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stormrage avoids the head kick by Jones.
Stormrage fails to land the takedown.
Jones misses with a looping right.
Jones looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stormrage shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Illidan Stormrage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stormrage stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jones.
Nice sprawl there from Stormrage as Jones shoots in.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jones.
Jones tries to clinch but Stormrage moves out of range.
Stormrage shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stormrage tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stormrage somewhat.
Stormrage misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jones dives in and grabs Stormrage's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stormrage pushes down on Jones's head and hops out.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Jones thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stormrage moves away.
Jones swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stormrage counters with a shoot takedown. Jones fights it but they end up in guard.
Stormrage tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Stormrage with a nice head shot there.
Stormrage is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stormrage pushes down on Jones's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stormrage looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illidan Stormrage dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jones misses with a takedown attempt

and Stormrage counters with a takedown into side control.
Jones is working to avoid the ground and pound but Stormrage connects with a decent elbow.
Stormrage slows the pace down.
Stormrage working the ground and pound but Jones is defending the strikes.
Jones is not content to let Stormrage control the position.
Jones is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stormrage is controlling him well.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stormrage working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones seems a little lost for a moment, as Stormrage dominates the positioning.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Illidan Stormrage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Stormrage shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jones is trying to defend but Stormrage finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stormrage not doing much here.
Stormrage'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.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stormrage seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Stormrage is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Jones is looking to control Stormrage's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jones avoid being mounted?
Jones is trying to stand.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Illidan Stormrage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jones with a poor takedown

and Stormrage counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stormrage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stormrage slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jones seems a little lost for a moment, as Stormrage dominates the positioning.
Stormrage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jones for as long as he can get away with.
Stormrage cracks Jones with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stormrage taking a breather here.
Jon Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Illidan Stormrage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Stormrage throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stormrage off to one side.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jones.
Stormrage has a takedown stuffed.
Illidan Stormrage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stormrage looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Illidan Stormrage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stormrage looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jones!

And that's the end of the fight!
Illidan Stormrage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stormrage, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Illidan Stormrage!