PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eli Samuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel comes to the cage accompanied by Bring The Goons Out. 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.

Samuel
vs
Jones

155 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

177 cm
19
167 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eli Samuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Jones!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Samuel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Jones scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jones is pressing down on Samuel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samuel is holding on for now.
Samuel is looking to escape.
Samuel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ground and pound from Jones.
Samuel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samuel keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samuel tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jones controlling the pace.
Jones is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Samuel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jones thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jones wants to pass to mount but Samuel is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel is trying to stand up here but Jones is controlling him well.
Jones trying to control the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Samuel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Samuel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jones, pushing him back against the cage.
Samuel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Samuel throws a head kick that misses.
Jones tries for a takedown but Samuel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel with a jab.

Samuel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
Samuel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Samuel wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Samuel won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones is on top in guard.
Samuel wants to get back to his feet but Jones is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Samuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Samuel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Samuel tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Jones stays in close to Samuel's body and controls the position.
Jones pushes down on Samuel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jones is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones is pressing down on Samuel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samuel is holding on for now.
Samuel is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Jones throwing shots but Samuel is blocking nicely.
Samuel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Samuel is trying to stand.
Jones throwing shots but Samuel is blocking nicely.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Samuel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Samuel wants to get back to his feet.
Jones seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jones stops Samuel from getting back to his feet.
Samuel pushes Jones off but Jones dives into side control.
Jones wants to control but Samuel is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Samuel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jones to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Samuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Samuel fails with the takedown

and Jones counters with a single leg into guard. Samuel didn't expect that.
Samuel wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
Jonesis looking to pass into half guard but Samuel pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Samuel is in guard.
Jones is trying to control the position but Samuel postures up.
Samuel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones is pulling down on Samuel's head. It's preventing any offense from Samuel, at least for the moment.
Samuel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Jones working for submissions but it's allowed Samuel to get to half guard.
Jones wants to control but Samuel is keeping busy.
Jones taking some punishment here, with Samuel in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Samuel there.
Samuel trying to mount his opponent but Jones defends it.
Jones is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Samuel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Samuel's back!
Samuel is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Samuel is trying to get back to his feet but Jones has full control of the position and if anything, Samuel has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Samuel as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Jones!
Jones somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Jones cracks Samuel with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Samuel from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Samuel looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Samuel fending off the submission attempt from Jones.
Jones lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is trying to stand back up.
Samuel trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Jones is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Samuel controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Jones is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Jones is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Jones looking to break Samuel's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Samuel remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Jones will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Samuel controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Jones struggling to land strikes to the head as Samuel covers up.
Samuel is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Jones throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Samuel is trapped and Jones is scoring with shots to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Jones 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! This is the final round!

Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Samuel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Samuel landing shots from mount.
Jones can't escape the position.
Samuel with the ground and pound from mount.
Samuel landing strikes from the mount and Jones is in trouble!
Samuel landing shots from mount.
Samuel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jones looks a forlorn figure.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Samuel raining down shots from the mount!
Samuel has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jones's face.
Jones regains half guard.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Samuel throws a strike but Jones avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Samuel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel preventing the sweep.
Samuel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Samuel preventing the sweep.
Jones trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Samuel throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Samuel misses with a looping left.

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.
Samuel misses with a takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Samuel wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.
Samuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samuel wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Jones trying to control but Samuel is working from the bottom.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jones controls the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Samuel misses with a takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jones in particular looking to stall.
Samuel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jones keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Samuel is looking to get back to is feet but Jones passes into side control.
Samuel is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Jones has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel taking punishment in the form of punches.
Jones is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Samuel is looking to get back to his feet here but Jones is keeping cool and he's managed to take Samuel's back.

Samuel is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Chris Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samuel is trying to get back to his feet but Jones has full control of the position and if anything, Samuel has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Jones.
I've got Jones winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

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