PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Roberto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rusty Cage. 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
Roberto

183 cm
22
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

197 cm
23
198 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Jones!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joao Roberto!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberto dodges the punch combination from Jones.
Roberto wants to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Jones misses the target.
Roberto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Roberto persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.

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.

Roberto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jones can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Roberto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Roberto manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Roberto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Roberto tries to buck Jones off but Jones is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones scoring with punches from side control.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roberto keeps working.
Jones gets to mount! Roberto was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Jones gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Jones bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Roberto's head backwards.
Jones misses with a body kick.

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

Jones is working for a kimura but Roberto is defending it quite comfortably.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Roberto is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberto tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Roberto trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Roberto is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Roberto is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Jones drives through with a takedown into guard.
Roberto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Roberto with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Roberto goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jones turns into him and now he's in Roberto's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Roberto keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

Roberto working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.
Roberto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Roberto keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Roberto uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Roberto shoots and misses
and Jones counters with a one-two to the body.
Justin Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Roberto.
Roberto fails with the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Jones.
Roberto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
Jones connects with the punch.
Roberto shoots and misses

and Jones counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Roberto!
Roberto is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones misses with a few strikes there.
Horrible takedown by Roberto or perhaps it was just good defense by Jones which made him look bad.
Roberto with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Roberto fights it but they end up in guard.
Roberto being controlled here, momentarily.

Roberto working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.
Roberto looking for a sweep. Not yet Roberto, not yet.
Jones stands and throws Roberto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Roberto is looking for a sweep.
Roberto regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones stands up from half guard.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roberto tries a head kick but it misses.
Roberto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Roberto closes the distance and clinches.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Roberto, against the ropes.
Jones wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jones tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roberto just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Roberto tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Justin Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Roberto.
Roberto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jones is keeping busy.
Roberto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Jones successfully pulls guard.
Roberto trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roberto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberto is pushing down on Jones's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jones is fighting to maintain full guard but Roberto has managed to sneak the leg through.
Roberto wants to stand up but Jones has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Roberto sits in half guard.

Roberto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roberto trying to pass the guard but Jones defending well.
Jones manages to get to full guard.
Roberto wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Roberto is pushing down on Jones's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jones is fighting to maintain full guard but Roberto has managed to sneak the leg through.
Jones wants to improve his position but Roberto is controlling well.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Roberto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Justin Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Roberto decides to stand up.
Roberto tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jones counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roberto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Roberto tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roberto tries to clinch up.
Justin Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
Roberto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
A punch combination from Jones misses.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Roberto swivels and escapes.
Roberto shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.
Jones works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roberto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Roberto is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Jones dominated that second 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.

Roberto is looking to clinch.
Roberto tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Roberto throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Roberto with a poor takedown

so Jones counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jones landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Roberto looking for a sweep. Not yet Roberto, not yet.
Jones trying to control but Roberto is working from the bottom.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones trying to control but Roberto is working from the bottom.
Jones prevents Roberto from getting back to his feet.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roberto is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Roberto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roberto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Jones shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Roberto's guard.

Jones postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Roberto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jones, into his guard.
Jones might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Roberto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Roberto stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberto shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Justin Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Roberto.
Jones lands a nice looking body kick.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roberto with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a single leg into guard. Roberto didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Jones cracks Roberto with a solid left hand.

Roberto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Roberto.
Roberto keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Roberto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberto is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Roberto wants to clinch
and Jones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roberto darts in trying to clinch

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roberto is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Roberto defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberto tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.

Roberto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Roberto has managed to free his arm - good work.

Jones is working for a submission of some sort.

Roberto kicks off Jones and gets to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Jones clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roberto gets the takedown into side control.

Roberto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Roberto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jones prevents Roberto from moving into mount.
Jones struggling a bit here.
Jones is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Jones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roberto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roberto scoring with punches from side control.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roberto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jones has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Roberto but great work by Jones.
Jones wants to control but Roberto is keeping him busy.
Jones tries to move into full mount but can't pass Roberto's legs.
Roberto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jones asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Roberto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Roberto is looking for a sweep. Jones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jones is pressing down on Roberto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roberto is holding on for now.

Roberto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roberto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roberto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jones's guard.
Roberto is looking to stand up but Jones won't let him.

Roberto drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Roberto as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Jones screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Roberto! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Joao Roberto!
Joao Roberto is the new light heavyweight champion!