PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kantemir Gaunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Jones's choice of entrance music: call me mabe. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gaunov
vs
Jones

163 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kantemir Gaunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Jones!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaunov takes a jab right on the kisser.

Gaunov closes the distance and pushes Jones back into the cage.
Jones taking a breather.
Jones avoiding damage.
Jones cracks Gaunov with a nice body shot.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Gaunov misses with a hook
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Gaunov.
A head kick misses from Gaunov.

Gaunov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jones avoiding damage as Gaunov throws knees to the body.
Jones is trying to push Gaunov away but Gaunov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gaunov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jones walks away with a smile on his face. Gaunov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Gaunov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jones's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaunov breaks from the clinch.

Jones pushes Gaunov up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaunov controlling the action here for a moment.
Jones can't break the clinch.
A body shot lands from Jones.
Jones just leaning against Gaunov, taking a breather.
Jones managing to block the knees to the body from Gaunov.
Gaunov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gaunov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kantemir Gaunov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones pulls guard effortlessly.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Gaunov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gaunov is desperately trying to improve his position but Jones has a good base and remains in mount.
Jones trying to control but Gaunov is having none of it.

Jones is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gaunov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gaunov shrugs it off.
Gaunov is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov is working hard here to advance position.

Jones stands up from mount. Strange move.
Jones tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gaunov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Gaunov persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Gaunov is breathing heavily.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jones has managed to clinch.
Gaunov prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Jones drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gaunov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gaunov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gaunov off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Gaunov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gaunov fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Gaunov shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Gaunov which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaunov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jones counters by clinching up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jones tries to pull guard but Gaunov holds him up against the cage and eventually Jones drops back down to his feet.
Jones has Gaunov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gaunov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Jones dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Gaunov in a clinch.

Gaunov breaks the clinch.

Gaunov clinches up with Jones and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones gets underhooks to prevent Gaunov's takedown attempt.
Jones has Gaunov pushed against the cage.
Gaunov keeps control of Jones as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones misses with a body punch.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gaunov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gaunov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones looks for a takedown but Gaunov sprawls well.

Gaunov darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gaunov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jones to the mat. Jones regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaunov stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gaunov advances to half guard.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
Gaunov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Gaunov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Gaunov wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jones pushes Gaunov off looking to stand but Gaunov dives back in and keeps control.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Gaunov is very close to passing his half guard.
Gaunov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Gaunov from controlling successfully.
Jones wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kantemir Gaunov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gaunov counters with a big head kick but Jones shrugs it off.
Kantemir Gaunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jones.
Jones gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Gaunov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gaunov.
Kantemir Gaunov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gaunov is controlling him.
Gaunov wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Jones uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Gaunov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gaunov tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gaunov to the ground. Gaunov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Nice uppercut lands for Gaunov. That snapped Jones's head back.

Jones gets caught napping as Gaunov dives in and scores a takedown. Jones manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaunov trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones wants to hit a switch here but Gaunov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jones there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantemir Gaunov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gaunov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
Jones tries for a takedown but Gaunov circles away easily
and Gaunov counters with a left and a right that stings Jones.
Gaunov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones stuffs the takedown.

Gaunov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gaunov is controlling the pace.

Gaunov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jones defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is trying to control but can't.
Jones is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Gaunov is staying active.
Gaunov wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.

Jones makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gaunov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kantemir Gaunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jones.
Jones lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gaunov tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaunov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
John Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Jones lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gaunov backs up against the cage.
Gaunov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gaunov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jones moves into the clinch.

Gaunov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones throws a combination. Gaunov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jones fails with the takedown
and Gaunov counters with a good low kick that Jones was not able to check.
Gaunov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gaunov stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaunov instigates a clinch.
Gaunov jumps guard but Jones turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jones is leaning against Gaunov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Jones is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
Gaunov moves out of range of the body kick from Jones.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones wants to clinch up but Gaunov keeps it at a distance.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Gaunov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gaunov shoots in but no luck this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Jones.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

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