PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: n. Steve Jones has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mack
vs
Jones

165 cm
24
300 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
294 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stephan Mack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Jones!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mack waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jones.
Nice body punch from Mack.
Mack looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones shoots and misses

and Mack counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mack.
Jones works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mack landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mack is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Mack might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mack accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones wants to stand up but Mack is controlling him.
Mack throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack with a nice head shot there.
Jones striking from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jones thows a huge punch but Mack dodges it nicely.
Mack is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Mack keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jones seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mack blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jones.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is pressing down on Mack's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mack is holding on for now.
Mack wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mack ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jones moves away.
Jones falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mack counters with a single leg into guard. Jones didn't expect that.
Mack preventing the sweep.
Mack is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mack postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mack throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mack preventing the sweep.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mack lands a couple of digs.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Mack is having none of it.
Jones looks gassed!
Mack postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mack postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Jones pushes Mack off and scrambles back to his feet.
Jones slips a straight right by Mack.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack throws a jab but it's blocked by Jones.
A clash of legs there as Mack blocks the low kick.
Stephan Mack seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones throws a combination that misses
and Mack counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Mack looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mack throws a big right hand that misses.
Mack throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mack won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Jones manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mack in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mack falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Mack.
Mack swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mack takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Mack gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Mack.
Mack prevents Jones from escaping the position.
Jones wants to control but Mack postures up.
Mack cracks Jones with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Jones gets back to half guard.

Jones makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Mack misses with a double jab

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Mack defending well.
Jones seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Jones is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mack defends it well.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mack has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.
Mack keeping control of the position.
Mack tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.

Jones is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents Mack from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones misses with a body shot.
Mack connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jones looks to land a combination but Mack avoids it well.

That's four 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 throws a series of punches but Mack moves out of range.
Mack misses with a hook to the body
and Jones counters with a series of strikes. Mack will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mack shoots and misses
and Jones counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mack thinking.
Mack connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mack's waist but Mack gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
Mack misses with a combination

so Jones counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mack keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mack counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Mack to acknowledge the strikes.
Jones misses with a double jab

so Mack counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mack trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones wants to stand but Mack is controlling the position.
Stephan Mack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones is on top in guard.
Mack wants to sweep but no luck.
Mack knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Jones drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Jones jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mack looking to control.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mack is keeping the position for now.
Mack trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.

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 working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Mack closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jones did well to prevent Mack getting side control.
Jones manages to get to full guard.
Jones controls Mack momentarily but Mack frees himself.
Mack working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mack throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mack is controlling him.
Mack thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack postures up and lands a big shot to Jones's brow.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mack.

Jones has his feet on Mack's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mack scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mack misses with a hook to the body
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mack misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Mack misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Jones duly obliges.

It looks like Stephan Mack has been cut.

Mack shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jones's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mack postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mack loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Jones has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mack off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jones scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mack falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stephan Mack.
I think Mack 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Jones!