PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk DePaul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Jones has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Jones
vs
DePaul

185 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Inner Fire Nutrition [Formerly Fuel]
Elite Canadian Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kirk DePaul!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DePaul closes the distance and clinches up with Jones, looking for a takedown. DePaul pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and DePaul counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jones won't be happy with that.
DePaul slows the pace down.
Jones wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Jones trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Jones wants to control but DePaul postures up.
DePaul tries to advance to mount but can't.
DePaul controlling the position.
Jones manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of DePaul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take DePaul's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
DePaul rolls, trying to escape but Jones keeps control of the position.
Jones trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Jones keeps control of the position as DePaul tries to break free.
Jones just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Jones wants to control but DePaul is keeping busy.
Jones avoiding DePaul 's attempts to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jones wants to control but DePaul is keeping busy.
Jones has the hooks in. DePaul is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Jones is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
DePaul is keeping busy.
What can DePaul do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
DePaul tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Jones wants to control the pace but DePaul is squirming around nicely.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnny Jones just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
DePaul shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a body shot.

DePaul rushes Jones and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jones tries to pull guard but DePaul won't allow it.
DePaul has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnny Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirk DePaul.
DePaul makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
DePaul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jones.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
DePaul is pressed up against the cage. Jones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag DePaul down to the mat. DePaul avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
DePaul fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and DePaul counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by DePaul.
DePaul has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. DePaul is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones is breathing heavily.
DePaul landing knees to the body.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jones working aggressively here.
DePaul looking for a takedown.

DePaul pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jones misses with a double jab.

DePaul looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jones wants to control but DePaul is keeping busy and won't allow it.
DePaul is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jones wants to improve his position but DePaul is controlling well.
DePaul seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk DePaul dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

DePaul shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than DePaul was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
DePaul tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
DePaul lands a big shot there that rocks Jones but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jones holds of for dear life.
Jones in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Jones gets back to half guard.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but DePaul is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones wants to improve his position but DePaul is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is in trouble now - DePaul has advanced to mount!
DePaul controlling from mount.
DePaul prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
Jones tries to hold on but DePaul pushes him away.
DePaul controlling from mount.
Jones tries to lock up and control but DePaul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
DePaul controlling the pace for now.

That's two 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.
Let's hope that DePaul has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jones is trying to escape the mount.
Jones tries to hold on but DePaul pushes him away.
DePaul with shots to the head and body - Jones looks very uncomfortable down there.
DePaul controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DePaul prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
DePaul sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Jones is trying to escape the mount.
DePaul controlling from the full mount.
Jones is desperately trying to improve his position but DePaul has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
DePaul controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kirk DePaul just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

DePaul instigates a clinch.
Jones tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. DePaul just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones can't get the takedown.
DePaul landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but DePaul gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
DePaul lands a knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from DePaul.
DePaul has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jones avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
DePaul changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johnny Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

DePaul clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk DePaul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jones misses with a takedown

and DePaul counters by clinching up.
Jones has DePaul pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. DePaul manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
DePaul with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Johnny Jones has been cut.
DePaul displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jones up against the cage.
DePaul lands a knee to the body.
Jones gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from DePaul.
Knees to the body from DePaul.
Knees in the clinch landing for DePaul.
DePaul goes for a takedown attempt but Jones pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

DePaul moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stalling in the clinch from DePaul.

DePaul gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DePaul wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
DePaul slows the pace down in half guard.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
DePaul slows the pace down in half guard.
Jones missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
DePaul looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Jones is trying to stand.
DePaul controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to control DePaul's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jones avoid being mounted?
DePaul with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnny Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Kirk DePaul just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DePaul moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.

DePaul looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jones!
Jones is desperately trying to improve his position but DePaul has a good base and remains in mount.
Kirk DePaul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DePaul content just to control the position here.
Jones is in all sorts of trouble here.
DePaul sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
DePaul blocks Jones's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirk DePaul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got DePaul 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk DePaul!