PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Durham (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
Durham

193 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 New York, Ben Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Durham!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jones tries for a takedown but Durham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheers as Durham lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jones doesn't seem phased though.
Jones walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A bone on bone clash there as Jones blocks the leg kick.
Durham connects with a right hand. Jones shakes it off.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Durham defends well and Jones ends up having to push Durham into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jones gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Mike Durham has been cut.
Durham tries to break free but Jones pushes him back against the cage.
Jones throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jones lands an elbow just above Durham 's eye.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jones on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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 walks into a stiff left hand from Durham.

Durham gets caught napping as Jones dives in and scores a takedown. Durham manages to retain guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Durham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Durham is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.

Jones stands and steps away. Durham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Durham lands a slapping body shot.
Jones takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mike Durham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durham connects with a body shot.
Durham keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Durham lands a glancing blow to the side of Jones's head.
Jones blocks a leg kick.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durham trying to control here.
Durham tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones controlling the pace.
Durham is pressing down on Jones's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Durham wants to sweep but no luck.

Jones gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jones walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Durham swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Durham with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Durham scores with a nice head shot.
Durham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
Durham jabs Jones right on the nose. Jones blinks but takes it well.
Durham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Jones dives in and scores a takedown into Durham's guard.
Durham trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones won't allow Durham to sweep him here.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Durham is working an open guard so Jones takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Durham in a clinch.
Durham being controlled against the cage.
Jones prevents a body shot from Durham.

Jones has Durham pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jones pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Durham tumbling to the mat - Jones dives into Durham's guard.
Durham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones 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.

Durham has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
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!
Durham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jones showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Jones just wasn't active enough.
Durham works the jab nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Durham will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Durham's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jones doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Durham.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Durham lands a really nice looking cross but Jones seems unphased.
Durham lands with a nice body punch.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones shoots in but Durham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Durham uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Durham scores with a jab to the jaw.
Durham cracks Jones with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ben Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Durham as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Durham controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Durham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.

Durham 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.
Durham trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones keeping full guard, as Durham tries to pass.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Durham tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones controlling Durham's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Durham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Jones darts in looking for a takedown but Durham gets double underhooks and turns Jones into the cage.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Durham can't find room to land a body shot as Jones controls the action.
Durham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jones's elbow.
Durham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Jones lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Durham trying to control but Jones postures up.
Ben Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the pace.
Durham is looking to improve his position.
Durham has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jones is working away from the top position though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Durham pinned against the cage. Durham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Durham.
Jones takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Durham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Jones takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mike Durham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durham throws out a powerful jab.
Jones takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Durham lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab lands there for Durham.
Durham moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Durham connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jones. Jones circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Donk. Durham catches Jones right on the button with a cross.
Durham connects with a body shot that sends Jones's belly button to the back.
Durham connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jones. Jones circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Durham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Durham's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Durham keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Durham bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jones has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Jones there as he acknowledges the shot.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Durham sneaks back into half guard.
Durham tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.
Durham trying to control from the bottom.
Durham might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Durham tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Jones is thwarting Durham's attempts to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones tries to stand but can't do so whilst Durham controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Durham's thigh. Durham counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Durham trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.

Jones gets to his feet. Durham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jones closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Durham did well to prevent Jones getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Durham has managed to free his arm - good work.
Durham gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jones defends it easily.
Jones's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Durham wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Durham 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
Jones is trying desperately to improve position.
Mike Durham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Durham trying to control but Jones is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is desperately trying to improve his position but Durham has a good base and remains in mount.
Durham looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jones is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jones is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Durham is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Jones working to try and regain half guard.
Durham wants to control the pace but Jones is squirming around nicely.
Ben Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones prevents Durham from taking his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Durham.
I've got Durham 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Durham!