PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Malians (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russell Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malians comes to the cage accompanied by Right Now - Van Halen. 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.

Malians
vs
Jones

173 cm
22
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

South Side Swagger

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Malians!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Russell Jones!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones has managed to clinch.
Malians tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Jones lands a right hand that snaps the head of Malians backwards.
Malians avoiding damage as Jones throws knees to the body.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malians's elbow.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Malians.
Malians looking for a takedown.
Jones missing with knees to the body.
Malians avoids the elbow strike from Jones, against the cage.
Jones throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Malians.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Malians dodges an elbow strike from Jones.
Nice body punch from Jones - that landed with a thud.

Malians pulls guard.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Malians.

Jones has gone for a leg lock! Malians slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jones's guard.
Malians wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Malians stacks Jones on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Malians!

Malians decides to stand back up. Malians steps back and let's Jones get back to his feet.

Malians has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Malians blocks an elbow strike from Jones.
Jones working aggressively here.
Jones missing with knees to the body.
Malians prevents a body shot from Jones.
Jones missing with knees to the body.
Jones looks gassed!

Malians jumps guard.

Jones drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Malians dives on top into guard.
Malians controls from within his opponent's guard.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Malians has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Malians trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malians tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Jones doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Malians trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Malians pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.

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

Malians bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Malians slows the pace down.
Jones is looking for a sweep.
Jones manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malians is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jones defends it well.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Malians has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones regains full guard. Nicely done.

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malians can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malians stands and throws Jones's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Malians tries for a kimura but Jones is defending well.
Jones tries to buck Malians off but Malians is having none of it.
Jones is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Malians in side control, throwing shots but Jones defends.
Jones tries to improve position but can't.

Malians tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Malians sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Malians prevents Jones from improving his position.
Malians trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

Malians is looking for a kimura here.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Malians trying to mount his opponent but Jones defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Malians dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones throws a shot from downtown. Malians moves away and avoids it.
A jab from Jones misses.
Malians fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jones.

Malians scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Malians is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jones is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jones gets back to half guard.

Malians looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Jones looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malians is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jones regains full guard. Nicely done.

Malians avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Malians trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones wants to sweep here but Malians controlling him for the moment.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malians.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jones has his feet on Malians's thighs here. He's pushed Malians off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Malians screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Russell Jones!