PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pepper Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pepper Jones has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jones
vs
Holliday

198 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
28
200 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepper Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Holliday!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holliday connects with a body shot.
Jones looks to clinch
and Holliday counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Jones feints and as Holliday raises his hands in defense, Jones changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jones trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Holliday manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Holliday gets to his feet - Jones follows without any prompting.
Jones tries to clinch

and Holliday counters by clinching up.
Holliday blocking some punches.
Jones tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Jones lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holliday is keeping the position for now.
Holliday has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones won't allow Holliday to sweep him here.

Jones drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Holliday manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jones has Holliday in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Holliday is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones is working an open guard so Holliday takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jones looks to clinch

and Holliday holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Holliday is looking to break free of the clinch but Jones has double underhooks.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.
Holliday wants to get back to his feet but Jones is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Holliday pushes Jones off and gets back to his feet.

Jones has Holliday up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Holliday leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holliday lands with a short shot to the head.
Holliday lands a shot to the body.
Holliday wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A hook to the body from Holliday.

Holliday escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones shoots and misses
and Jones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jones tries to clinch but Holliday moves away

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jones stalling.
A right hook to the body lands for Holliday.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Holliday pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones is breathing heavily.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by Holliday. Holliday maintains the clinch.
Jones can't get the takedown.
Holliday digs a right hand into Jones's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jones's gas tank.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
and Holliday counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Holliday to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a takedown
and Holliday counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Holliday to acknowledge the strikes.
Left hook, right uppercut from Holliday.
Jones moves to clinch but Holliday breaks away
and Holliday counters with a one-two to the body.
Holliday works over Jones's head and body with a nice combination.
Jones fails with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a left and a right that stings Jones.

Holliday moves into the clinch.
Holliday scores with a nice hook to the head.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Holliday lands a two punch combo.
Holliday shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Jones eats them both and turns towards Holliday to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holliday scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Holliday has managed to clinch.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Holliday pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jones tries to clinch up

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.

Holliday pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holliday scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to clinch but Holliday slips to the side

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Holliday is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones wants to clinch but Holliday slips to the side
and Holliday counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pepper Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones misses with a takedown
letting Holliday counter with a right hand.

Holliday pushes Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Holliday avoids the damage to the body.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Holliday 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.

Jones wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holliday, who protects the arm well.
Jones landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Holliday is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Holliday dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jones has his takedown stuffed

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Jones tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Holliday makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Holliday closes the distance and clinches.
Holliday throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holliday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jones shoots and misses
and Holliday connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holliday moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Holliday darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.

Holliday breaks from the clinch.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
and Holliday counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Holliday shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Jones eats them both and turns towards Holliday to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jones looks to clinch
and Holliday counters with a two punch combo.
Holliday scores with a jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holliday lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jones wants to clinch

and Holliday moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Holliday.
Holliday scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Holliday manages to break the clinch.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a series of strikes. Jones will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jones fails with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Holliday scores with a one two! Jones had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Good exchange - Holliday coming out on top.
A jab from Holliday finds it's way through Jones's defenses.
Jones misses with a takedown
letting Holliday counter with a right hand.
Holliday lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Holliday works over Jones's head and body with a nice combination.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
enabling Holliday to counter with a crisp jab.
John Holliday seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holliday lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Holliday closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holliday gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Holliday pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Holliday closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Holliday has him pressed against the cage.
Jones tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Holliday just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Holliday pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holliday manages to avoid it.
Holliday throws a combination. Jones tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jones wants to clinch

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holliday's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Holliday duly obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Holliday rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holliday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jones is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Holliday.
Jones closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
John Holliday is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a head kick that misses.
Holliday scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jones closes the distance looking to clinch
and Holliday counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Holliday to acknowledge the strikes.
Jones closes the distance looking to clinch

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.

Holliday escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jones looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Jones tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holliday misses with the combination.
John Holliday is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Jones wants to clinch
and Holliday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Holliday has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Holliday lands a nice shot to the body.
Jones closes the distance but Holliday moves to the side
and Holliday counters with a one-two to the body.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
letting Holliday counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
Jones wants to clinch
and Holliday counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jones tries to clinch but Holliday moves away
and Holliday counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Holliday counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jones thinking.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Holliday works over Jones's head and body with a nice combination.

Holliday gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holliday misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones throws an off balance right hand

and Holliday counters by clinching up.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Holliday lands a right hand.
Jones prevents Holliday from breaking the clinch.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Holliday 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jones tries for a takedown but Holliday circles away easily

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jones has Holliday pressed against the cage, preventing Holliday from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones shoots and misses
enabling Holliday to counter with a crisp jab.

Holliday moves into range and clinches up with Jones.
Holliday is leaning against Jones and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Jones is working for takedown but Holliday is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Holliday breaks from the clinch.
Jones wants to clinch

and Holliday moves into the clinch.
Holliday working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by Holliday. Holliday maintains the clinch.
Jones has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Holliday avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jones is looking to control Holliday's arms but Holliday gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jones has his back to the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones fails with the takedown

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jones is trying to maintain a safe position but Holliday gets an underhook and turns Jones into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holliday's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Holliday closes the distance and pushes Jones back into the cage.
A body shot lands from Holliday.

Holliday breaks from the clinch.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
letting Holliday counter with a right hand.

Holliday has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Holliday shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Holliday escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Holliday moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jones closes the distance looking to clinch

and Holliday holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Holliday pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jones wants to clinch but Holliday slips to the side

and Holliday counters by moving into the clinch.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holliday pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Jones darts in trying to clinch
and Holliday counters with a series of strikes. Jones will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Holliday shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holliday throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Holliday pushes Jones up against the cage in a clinch.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Holliday connects with a jab.

Holliday gets a clinch.
A short left from Jones.
Holliday pushes Jones back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Holliday as Jones tries to tie him up.

Holliday escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Holliday avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Holliday stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

Holliday gets a clinch.
Holliday is trying to break free.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Jones closes the distance but Holliday moves to the side
and Holliday counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a left and a right that stings Jones.

Holliday rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Holliday blocks a punch to the side of the head.
John Holliday seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Holliday stops a takedown attempt from Jones.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones fails with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Holliday to acknowledge the strikes.

Holliday closes the distance and clinches.
Holliday lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones looks for a takedown but Holliday sprawls well.
Holliday throws a combination. Jones tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jones shoots and misses

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Holliday manages to break the clinch.

Holliday moves into the clinch.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Holliday prevents it.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
John Holliday is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Holliday rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Holliday throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries for a takedown but Holliday manages to get underhooks.

Holliday breaks from the clinch.
Holliday lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jones tries for a takedown but Holliday circles away easily
and Holliday counters with a left and a right that stings Jones.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Holliday counters with a one-two to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jones stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Pepper Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Holliday breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Holliday drives through and clinches with Jones against the cage.

Holliday breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Holliday is working the combinations to good effect here.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Holliday counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones fails with the takedown

and Holliday holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Holliday breaks the clinch.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Holliday sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jones misses with a left hand

and Holliday counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Holliday comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Holliday 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight for John Holliday!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for John Holliday!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for John Holliday!

John Holliday wins by unanimous decision!