PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Walter Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Sands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joel Sands has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jones
vs
Sands

180 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joel Sands!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in but Sands avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones darts in trying to clinch
and Sands makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Horrible takedown by Sands or perhaps it was just good defense by Jones which made him look bad.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sands.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Walter Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Sands.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Sands shows good takedown defense.
Sands tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sands gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sands pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sands wants to take the fight to the mat but Jones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Sands breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sands gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Sands is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones prevents Sands from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sands not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Sands gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Sands keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Sands tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Sands is keeping the position.
Sands utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Sands is retaining full guard.
Sands avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sands not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jones postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sands is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jones, into his guard.

Sands got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jones has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sands has managed to get both his arms back between Jones's legs - danger averted.
Sands won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands stands and throws Jones's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jones can't do much from the bottom here.
Jones is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sands is chipping away with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sands lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jones down.

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

That was a close round but I would say that Walter Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sands misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sands looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Joel Sands seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Sands saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sands keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sands defends it nicely.
Sands feints and then cracks Jones's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jones down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones tries for a takedown but Sands sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sands has managed to clinch.

Sands gets control of Jones's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sands will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sands working a defensive guard here.
Sands 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 scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sands manages to mount him!

Jones defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sands.
Sands looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to stand up.
Sands trying to control but Jones is having none of it.
Jones tries to lock up and control but Sands gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sands working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Jones is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sands misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sands wants to control the pace but Jones is squirming around nicely.
Sands thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands wants to control the pace but Jones is squirming around nicely.

Sands goes for an armbar but Jones turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jones.
Sands trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Sands showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sands swivels and escapes.
Sands fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jones takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sands shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sands shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
Walter Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Sands.
Sands shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Sands is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Sands shoots in looking for a takedown but Jones manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sands's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sands is defended easily by Jones.
Sands closes the distance and clinches up with Jones, looking for a takedown. Sands pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to clinch but Sands is avoiding it.
Joel Sands seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Jones gets a clinch.
Jones has Sands pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sands manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sands jumps guard and drags Jones to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones postures up.
Sands keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones won't allow Sands to sweep him here.
Jones is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sands works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sands throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jones on the side of the head.

Sands looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Jones kicks Sands off and gets back to his feet.
Sands shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jones slips nicely into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones moves nicely into side control.
Jones trying to control the position but Sands is working away.
Jones sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sands is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones misses with an attempted head punch from 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 Walter Jones.
I think Jones 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

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