PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jones might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to what's new pussycat. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jones
vs
Washburn

185 cm
26
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
177 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zoe Washburn!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Washburn tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Washburn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Jones clinches up with Washburn and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Washburn fails to pull guard.
Jones blocks a body shot from Washburn.
Washburn lands a right hand.
Washburn working aggressively here.
Jones pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jones avoiding damage.
Jones gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Washburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Washburn taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Washburn lands a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Jones wants to sweep here but Washburn controlling him for the moment.
Washburn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Washburn is one step ahead there.
Washburn wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Jones is trying to control the position but Washburn postures up.
Washburn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Washburn controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones controls Washburn momentarily but Washburn frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tom Jones just wasn't active enough.
Washburn tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a right hand to the body.

Jones has Washburn up against the cage in a clinch.
Washburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jones is defending well.
Tom Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jones takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Washburn is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Washburn as Jones tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn is looking for a takedown.
Jones lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jones.

Washburn pulls Jones into guard.

Washburn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Washburn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones throws an elbow that misses. Washburn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Washburn!
Washburn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones is controlling Washburn's posture.
Washburn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Washburn is proving a slippery customer.
Washburn slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Washburn slips nicely into half guard.
Jones controlling the position for now.
Washburn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washburn misses with a head shot. Jones uses the momentum to regain guard.
Washburn stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zoe Washburn will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Washburn darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jones gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Zoe Washburn has been cut.
Washburn taking a breather.
Jones working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Washburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Washburn controls his hands.
Jones softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jones lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Washburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jones is defending well.
Jones throws a punch but it's blocked by Washburn.
Washburn avoiding damage.
Jones doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Washburn lands a right hand.
Jones taking a breather.
Jones is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Washburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones lands a nice elbow.
Washburn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tom Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.
Jones lands an elbow that stopped Washburn in his tracks for a moment.
Washburn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Jones pushes Washburn up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones misses with a punch to the body.
Washburn is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jones tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
Jones misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Washburn.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Washburn.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Washburn tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Washburn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Washburn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
Washburn wants to take the fight to the mat but Jones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jones working aggressively here.
Tom Jones has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jones tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jones.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Washburn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Washburn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Washburn holds on and takes a little breather.

Washburn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Washburn 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 controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Washburn looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Washburn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Washburn is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones won't allow Washburn to pass to mount.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Washburn has control of the leg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Washburn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Washburn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones trying to control here.
Jones controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zoe Washburn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zoe Washburn's cut.
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!

Washburn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jones tries to avoid it but Washburn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jones to the ground. Jones escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jones instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Washburn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Washburn is trying to pull guard but Jones turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tom Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.
Washburn looking to stall.
Jones is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Washburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washburn tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Washburn back against the cage.
Washburn misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Washburn tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Washburn drops back down to his feet.
Jones misses with an elbow strike.
Jones lands a left hand.
Washburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Washburn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Jones.

Washburn is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Jones can't fight it off and eventually Washburn manages to take the fight to the floor. Jones looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones wants to hit a switch here but Washburn passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jones there!
Jones working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones is squirming around, avoiding Washburn's attempts to control the action.
Washburn is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zoe Washburn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Washburn unloading with bombs!
Washburn pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A big strike lands for Washburn! That's really hurt Jones and he's turned his back - Washburn keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Washburn jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zoe Washburn!
A relieved looking Zoe Washburn thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.