PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Van Buren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Jones
vs
Van Buren

183 cm
22
213 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

195 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morgan Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Buren gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Van Buren throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Van Buren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Van Buren, against the cage.
Van Buren using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jones avoiding damage as Van Buren throws knees to the body.
Van Buren blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Buren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Van Buren looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jones jumps guard but Van Buren stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Buren throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jones tries to pull guard but Van Buren won't allow it.
Van Buren creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jones's defenses.
Van Buren leaning his opponent against the cage.
Van Buren throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones jumps guard but Van Buren turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morgan Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Buren is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Van Buren tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jones avoids it.
Jones lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Buren backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jones taking a breather.
Jones is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jones tries to pull guard but Van Buren holds him up against the cage and eventually Jones drops back down to his feet.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Van Buren putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jones in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jones has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Van Buren avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Van Buren looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Buren controls his hands.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jones takes an elbow to the temple.
Van Buren throws an elbow but it misses.
Van Buren misses with an elbow strike.
Van Buren gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jones dodges an elbow strike from Van Buren.
Jones avoiding damage as Van Buren throws knees to the body.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Van Buren is keeping busy.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Van Buren throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren trying to land knees to the body.
Van Buren misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jones.
Van Buren throws an elbow that misses.
Van Buren pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Van Buren tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Van Buren lands an elbow just above Jones 's eye.
Van Buren throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Van Buren creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Van Buren in a clinch.
Van Buren misses with a knee strike.
Van Buren just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
Van Buren creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones managing to block the knees to the body from Van Buren.
Jones is trying to pull guard but Van Buren has him pressed against the cage.
Jones is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Buren to keep the fight standing.
Van Buren throws an elbow that misses.
Van Buren pushes off an throws an elbow but Jones leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Jones manages to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Van Buren would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Buren is aware though and is defending well.
Jones might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones trying to control the position here.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Buren wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Van Buren dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Van Buren gets a clinch.
Van Buren managing to block the knees to the body from Jones.
Van Buren tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.
Van Buren throws an elbow that misses.
Jones displaying some good clinch control by pressing Van Buren up against the cage.
Van Buren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Jones is trying to drag Van Buren to the mat but Van Buren just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Jones successfully pulls guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Van Buren from controlling successfully.
Jones is trying to keep Van Buren in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Van Buren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Buren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Van Buren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Buren trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Van Buren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Buren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Buren really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Buren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Buren has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jones is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Buren.
Jones trying to control the position here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Buren tries to stand but Jones is controlling from the bottom.
Jones looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Morgan Jones just wasn't active enough.

Van Buren closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones is trying to pull guard but Van Buren turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jones avoiding damage as Van Buren throws knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Jones jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Buren walks away with a smile on his face. Jones gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morgan Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Van Buren blocks a head kick by Jones.

Van Buren instigates a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Van Buren throws an elbow but misses.
Van Buren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Van Buren tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jones avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Van Buren as Jones tries to tie him up.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.

Van Buren got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jones has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Buren has managed to get both his arms back between Jones's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Van Buren is proving a slippery customer.

Jones is looking for a triangle but Van Buren pushes his legs off easily.
Van Buren throwing strikes but missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Buren wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jones pushes Van Buren off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Van Buren fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jones, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Morgan Jones will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Buren has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Buren connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jones's face.
Van Buren looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Buren smiles and moves away.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Buren swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Buren using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jones has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Buren tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Van Buren just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jones's brow.
Jones fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morgan Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Buren smiles and moves away.

Van Buren has managed to clinch.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Van Buren, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jones takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Buren smiles and moves away.

Van Buren forces Jones back against the cage and clinches.
Jones tries to pull guard but Van Buren forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Van Buren is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Buren is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Van Buren to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones avoids a wild elbow strike from Van Buren.
Jones blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Buren tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Buren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Van Buren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Van Buren missing with knees to the body.
Van Buren lands an elbow just above Jones 's eye.

Jones successfully pulls guard.

Jones has his feet on Van Buren's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Van Buren closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones breaks from the clinch.

Van Buren gets a clinch.
Van Buren working Jones over with knees to the body.
Van Buren trying to land knees to the body.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Van Buren is keeping busy.
Van Buren tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.

Jones breaks from the clinch.

Van Buren darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Van Buren gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Van Buren scores a nice knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Van Buren - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Van Buren lands a good knee to the midsection. Jones won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Buren lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Van Buren content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones shoots in but Van Buren avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by Van Buren. Van Buren maintains the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Buren gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jones is trying to maintain a safe position but Van Buren gets an underhook and turns Jones into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Van Buren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Buren 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Van Buren!
A less than humble Matt Van Buren misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.