PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aira Panganiban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has chosen Hopsin - Ill Mind Of Hopsin 4 as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Panganiban
vs
Jones

180 cm
26
198 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
198 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aira Panganiban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rashad Jones!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panganiban attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Panganiban shoots in and gets a takedown into Jones's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jones is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Panganiban stops Jones from standing up.
Panganiban throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.
Panganiban won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.
Jones wants to sweep here but Panganiban controlling him for the moment.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Panganiban is controlling him.
Panganiban wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Panganiban in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Panganiban from controlling successfully.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panganiban working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Panganiban looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jones lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jones pushing down on Panganiban's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Panganiban is looking to escape.
Panganiban trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Panganiban is trying to escape back to his feet but Jones uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Panganiban is trying to get back to his feet.
Jones just content to control the position.
Panganiban bucks up and tries to throw Jones off but instead Jones has got his back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Jones controlling the positon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panganiban is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jones scores with punches from the back.
Panganiban knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Panganiban controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Will Jones go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Jones cracks Panganiban with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Panganiban from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Jones connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Panganiban to escape the position.
Panganiban is trying to get back to his feet but Jones has full control of the position and if anything, Panganiban has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Jones lands with a hammerfist to the side of Panganiban's head.
Jones is punishing Panganiban with strikes - can he finish him?!
Jones is punishing Panganiban with strikes - can he finish him?!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Panganiban has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Jones.

Panganiban manages to escape to his feet.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Panganiban tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Panganiban manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Panganiban.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Panganiban 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Jones dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones shoots for a takedown but Panganiban saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Panganiban shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Panganiban counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looking to control.
Panganiban wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Jones pushes Panganiban off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Panganiban sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aira Panganiban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Jones.

Panganiban closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jones quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones pushes Panganiban off and gets back to his feet.

Panganiban 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.
Panganiban with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panganiban stops Jones from standing up.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Panganiban.
Panganiban trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Panganiban with a flurry of punches that miss.
Panganiban working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones wants to stand up but Panganiban is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panganiban throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Panganiban throws a strike but Jones rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jones prevents Panganiban from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones prevents Panganiban from getting back to his feet.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Panganiban has wrist control.
Panganiban keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones passes into half guard.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Panganiban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones prevents Panganiban from standing back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones stops Panganiban from getting back to his feet.
Panganiban scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Jones manages to mount him!
Jones postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Panganiban looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panganiban is trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jones lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jones lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Panganiban is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Panganiban is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Jones trying to control but Panganiban is having none of it.
Panganiban is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rashad Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones dives in and grabs Panganiban's left leg, looking for a takedown. Panganiban pushes down on Jones's head and hops out.
Jones shoots in but Panganiban avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panganiban dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Panganiban's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panganiban shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Panganiban tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Panganiban to the ground. Panganiban escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aira Panganiban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Jones.
Jones looks for a takedown but Panganiban sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Panganiban with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jones counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Panganiban!
Panganiban tries to buck Jones off but he can't manage it.
Jones dominating with strikes here.
Jones with a couple of short strikes.
Panganiban is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Jones in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Panganiban tries to buck Jones off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Panganiban?
Jones working Panganiban over with strikes here.
Panganiban is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Panganiban is looking to escape.
Panganiban wants to try and get back to his feet.
Jones lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jones lands with some strikes.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones controlling his opponent.
Panganiban wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Jones looking to control but Panganiban is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rashad Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to control but Panganiban wriggling away.
Jones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Panganiban wants to get back to his feet.
Jones content just to control the position here.
Jones punishing his opponent with strikes.
Panganiban is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones dominating with strikes here.
Jones looking to control but Panganiban is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Panganiban in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Aira Panganiban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jones fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jones 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Jones!
Our winner, Rashad Jones, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.