PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rowland Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones comes into a darkened arena with his song building. kung fu fighting kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Edwards
vs
Jones

189 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rowland Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Matthew Jones!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edwards lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jones avoids the head kick by Edwards.
Edwards scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Edwards counters with a body kick that stops Jones in his tracks momentarily.

Jones gets a double leg takedown into Edwards's guard.
Jones throws and elbow that misses. Edwards uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Edwards!
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rowland Edwards wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edwards makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jones gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Edwards counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Edwards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Edwards.

Jones shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Edwards napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from Jones seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Jones has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Edwards taking shots to the head.
Jones tries to control but Edwards wriggling away.
Jones thowing shots but they're missing.
Edwards tries to reverse the position but Jones maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edwards holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jones tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jones lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Edwards hang on?
Jones throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Jones lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Edwards hang on?
Jones looking to control but Edwards is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jones looking to ground and pound but Edwards is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Jones dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jones takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Edwards throws a head kick that half lands.
Jones misses with a takedown
and Edwards counters with a thumping low kick.
Matthew Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edwards lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Edwards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jones.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rowland Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to clinch.
Edwards leaves Jones with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Edwards digs a good hook to Jones's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick
and Edwards counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Jones is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Jones misses with a takedown
and Edwards counters with a good low kick that Jones was not able to check.
Edwards throws a series of punches but Jones avoids them all with ease.
Edwards connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones takes a kick to the side of the head.
Edwards looks to score with a jab to the body but Jones is just out of range.
Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Edwards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Edwards sprawls well. Edwards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Edwards throws a lazy head kick

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Edwards defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones slips a nice elbow through Edwards's hands, connecting with Edwards's forehead.
Jones not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jones throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Edwards is defending well.
Jones is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jones sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Edwards defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rowland Edwards dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edwards counters with a nice low kick that buckles Jones's knee momentarily.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Rowland Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Edwards counters with a right hand to the body.
Rowland Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily
and Edwards counters with a nice leg kick.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Edwards circles away.
Edwards scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Edwards thumps Jones with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Edwards. No joy for Jones on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jones takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Edwards slips under a jab.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a nice leg kick.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Edwards counters with a head kick.
Rowland Edwards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jones to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Edwards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jones looking to sit in guard and control but Edwards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jones looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rowland Edwards has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rowland Edwards showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edwards 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rowland Edwards!