PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Franco

193 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dwight Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kevin Franco!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco closes the distance but Jones moves to the side

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franco's guard.
Jones sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Franco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Franco manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Franco's guard.
Jones wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.

Jones is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Franco wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franco swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Franco manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Jones has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Franco is trying to keep an underhook but Jones manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Jones prevents Franco from standing back up.
Franco flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco is looking to escape.
Jones is taking a breather. Franco says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jones knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Franco on the ground.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Franco defending well.

Franco actively working from the bottom here.
Franco looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying to control but Jones passes into side control!
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jones tries for a kimura but Franco is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franco is pushing Jones's head away, looking to escape. Jones manages to hold on to the position though.
Jones wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
Franco is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Jones controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Franco is defending well.
Franco looks to move to half guard but instead Jones has passed into mount! Damn!
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.
Jones avoids the attempt from Franco to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Franco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jones sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Franco tries to reverse the position but Jones maintains control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones controlling from mount.

Jones has hold of Franco's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Franco manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Jones dominated that round.
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.

Franco looks for the body kick but Jones saw that one coming.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco misses with the combination.
Both fighters circling a little - Franco finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Jones blocks the body kick.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Franco.
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco darts in trying to clinch

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franco's guard.
Jones trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Jones is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Franco is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco being controlled here, momentarily.
Jones is pushing down on Franco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Franco is fighting to maintain full guard but Jones has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Franco is looking to escape.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Jones trying to control the pace.
Franco trying to control but Jones postures 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!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones moves out of range as Franco throws a body kick.
Franco wants to clinch but Jones slips to the side

and Jones counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones pushing down on Franco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Franco tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jones wants to pass to mount but Franco is defending the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Franco is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dwight Jones.

Franco has managed to clinch.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Jones has hold of one of Franco's legs. Franco is fighting the takedown attempt but Jones gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Jones dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Franco tries to clinch up

and Jones counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jones.
Jones stops Franco from standing up.
Jones postures up.
Franco is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jones is controlling him.
Jones slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dwight Jones has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco throws a combination that misses

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jones is keen to just control but Franco is a slippery customer.
Jones content to control rather than advance.
Franco looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jones content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dwight Jones has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franco lands with a kick to the ribs.
Franco throws a shot from downtown. Jones moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to clinch

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Franco is being controlled here.

Jones is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Franco knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jones wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
Jones works to advance to full mount. Franco defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Jones jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Franco manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Franco struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones moves into full mount!
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco is looking to get to half guard.
Jones tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kevin Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwight Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

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