PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hajime Saito has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jon Jones's chin.

Jones
vs
Saito

180 cm
23
193 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hajime Saito!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones misses the shot to the body.
Saito goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jones rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saito moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hajime Saito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saito avoids the body shot from Jones.
Jones blocks a jab.
Jones avoids the head kick by Saito.
Saito throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Saito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jones.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Saito throws a head kick that misses.
Saito showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jones.
Saito missing with a left hand there. Jones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick from Saito lands but Jones takes it in his stride.
Jones uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saito.
Jones lands a body shot.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saito was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Saito. Jones shrugs it off though.
Jon Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saito at a distance.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jones cracks Saito with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Hajime Saito has been cut.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saito manages to avoid it.
A shot to de liver by Jones. Beautiful body shot.
Saito looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Saito.
Saito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jones wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones throws a shot to the body.
Jones swings for the body but Saito moves out of range.
Jones is looking to wear down Saito with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Jones digs a good body shot into Saito's ribs.
Jones throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Jones. That snapped Saito's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saito looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jones thows a body shot but no joy.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jones lands with a nice body punch.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Saito misses with an uppercut. Jones saw that one coming.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saito.
Saito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saito throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jones throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Saito has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Saito just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jones's brow.
Saito has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saito misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jones.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Saito is controlling him.
Saito misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jones's face.
Jones dodges an elbow strike from Saito.
Jones has had enough of the clinch but Saito keeps him there for the moment.
Jones can't break the clinch.
Saito creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saito misses with a knee to the head.
Saito creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Jones tries to circle away but Saito has him pinned against the cage.
Saito tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Saito, against the cage.
Jones has had enough of the clinch but Saito keeps him there for the moment.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jones blocks an elbow strike.
Saito creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Saito tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones blocks an elbow strike.
Saito throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jones blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jones dodges an elbow strike from Saito.
Jones wants to break free but Saito has control.
Saito throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Saito pushes off an throws an elbow but Jones leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Saito using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jones has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Saito is controlling him.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Saito, against the cage.
Jones managing to block the knees to the body from Saito.
Saito misses with an elbow over the top.
Saito has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saito throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Saito pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Saito throws an elbow that misses.
Saito throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saito prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Saito lands an elbow just above Jones 's eye.
Saito has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jones wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jones working hard to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saito misses with a knee strike.
Saito using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jones has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saito misses with an elbow over the top.
Jones blocks an elbow strike.
Saito throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Saito.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hajime Saito's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Saito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saito is looking to clinch.
Saito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saito avoids the body shot from Jones.
Jones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saito misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Jones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jones swings for the body but Saito moves out of range.

Saito shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saito showed some decent athleticism there.

Saito is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jones sees it coming and defends easily.
Jones is trying to stand up here but Saito is controlling him well.
Saito is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Saito thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saito.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Jones 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.
Saito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones thows a body shot but no joy.
Saito tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.

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.
Saito lands a high kick!

It looks like Jon Jones has been cut.
Saito waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jones.
Saito misses with a body shot.
Saito misses with a straight right.
Saito fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saito throws a jab but it's blocked by Jones.
Saito throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jones.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jones!
Jones stuns Saito with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jones lands the left hand.
Jones lands with a good body shot.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saito manages to avoid it.
Jones swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Saito cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Saito is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jones sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones lands a right hook to the body.
Jones misses with a body shot.
Saito misses with a body shot
and Jones counters with a left to the body.
Saito takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jones with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Saito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saito is looking to chop away at Jones's legs.
Saito throws a hook to the side of Jones's head but Jones sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jones stuns Saito with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jones lands a body shot.
Saito takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saito doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Jones punishes Saito's body with a nice straight punch.
Jones with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jones scores with a hook to the body. Saito takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jones throws a body punch but Saito moves out of range.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
Saito tries to clinch up.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Saito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jones.
Jones dips to his left and cracks Saito with an uppercut!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones tries to bum rush Saito with a series of wild strikes but Saito uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jones just misses with a punch to the body.
Saito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jones avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones takes a swing at Saito's ribcage but misses.
Jones takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Saito swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jones just misses with a punch to the body.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saito.
Saito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jones avoids the head kick by Saito.
Jones throws a looping overhand right but Saito ducks down to avoid it.
Jones bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Saito throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jones's head.
Saito tries a head kick but it misses.
Saito looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saito looks to clinch
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Saito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jones blocks a head kick by Saito.
A combination from Jones does no damage.
Saito slips a jab and a cross from Jones.
Jones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saito misses with a looping left.
Saito throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saito.
Jones checks the leg kick.
Jones lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to de liver by Jones. Beautiful body shot.
Jones scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a jab.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saito.
Saito misses with a double jab
and Jones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jones lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saito at a distance.
Jones's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Jones duly obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saito moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones lands with a nice body punch.
Jones scores with a body shot.
Jones with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Jones lands an impressive looking overhand right. Saito doesn't seem phased though.
Jones throws a series of strikes that have Saito backpedaling.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Jones blocks a head kick by Saito.
Saito looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.
Jones lands a slapping body shot.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hajime Saito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saito throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Jones ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
Saito connects with a high kick.
Jones thuds a left hand into Saito's body.
Jon Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Saito is just out of range.
Jones misses with a few strikes there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saito.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saito can do to turn this around?
Jones works Saito's body with a nice hook.
Jones throws a body punch but Saito moves out of range.
Saito tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saito gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jones.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saito throws a head kick that misses.
Jon Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones works Saito's body with a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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