PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Riberio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Jones could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alexandre Riberio's chin.

Jones
vs
Riberio

168 cm
32
185 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

182 cm
28
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexandre Riberio!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riberio on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Riberio tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riberio shoots in and drives through. Jones sprawls well.
Jones lands a jab to the nose.
Jones has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Ironfist MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Jones throws a jab when Riberio was well out of range.
Jones lands a jab to the nose.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Riberio.
Riberio wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Riberio avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones looks to land a combination but Riberio avoids it well.
Riberio closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jones counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Riberio thinking.
Riberio's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jones connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Riberio scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Riberio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jones throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Riberio stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Riberio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Riberio moves away and avoids it.
Jones swings widly with a right hand

and Riberio counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jones won't be happy with that.
Riberio wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.

Riberio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jones is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Riberio trying to control the position but Jones is working away.
Jones is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riberio is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones is being controlled here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riberio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jones is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riberio wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Jones is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riberio in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Riberio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riberio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Riberio trying to control the position but Jones is working away.

Riberio is trying to get an arm triangle but Jones is defending well.
Jones is trying to improve his position.
Jones isn't going anywhere.

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.
Jones is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Riberio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jones has escaped the position, nice work there.
Riberio trying to control the position but Jones is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that 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.

Riberio goes for a double leg but Jones avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jones continues to drive forward.
A little feinted left hand from Jones on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jones leaves Riberio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Riberio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jones defends it nicely.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandre Riberio.
Jones connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Riberio's hands.
Riberio throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Riberio off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riberio.
Jones lands a body shot.
Jon Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Riberio with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.
Jones misses with a hook.
Riberio fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riberio takes a jab right on the kisser.

Riberio darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.

Jones has hold of one of Riberio's legs. Riberio is fighting the takedown attempt but Jones gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Jones controls from within his opponent's guard.

Riberio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Riberio being controlled here, momentarily.
Jones's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jones engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Jones scoring with some ground and pound.

Riberio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jones defends well.
Riberio is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riberio is keeping the position for now.
Alexandre Riberio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jones sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jones is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jones works over Riberio's head and body with a nice combination.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Riberio can do to turn this around?
Jones connects with a jab.
Jones leaves Riberio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riberio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jones throws out a loose jab but Riberio uses good head movement to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Riberio.
Jones seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Riberio momentarily.
Jones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riberio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that second round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jones looks to land a left hand but Riberio moved out of range nicely.
Riberio with the counter takedown but Jones avoids it easily.
Jones misses with a straight left.
Riberio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones throws a series of strikes that have Riberio backpedaling.
Jones scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Riberio is rocked!
Jones works Riberio's body with a nice hook.
A big right from Jones misses.
Riberio fails in his attempt to clinch.

Jones gets caught napping as Riberio dives in and scores a takedown. Jones manages to retain guard.

Jones is looking for a triangle but Riberio pushes his legs off easily.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riberio is aware though and is defending well.
Riberio slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones tries to roll over but Riberio keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is doing well to control the position and prevent Riberio from advancing to side control.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Riberio sits in half guard.
Jones knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riberio on the ground.
Riberio wants to pass to mount but Jones is defending the position.
Alexandre Riberio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jones desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Riberio uses his free foot to push down on Jones's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jones.
Jones might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Riberio is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Jones has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Jones!
Riberio looking to control.
Jones engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jon Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riberio lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riberio wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Riberio looking to pass the guard.
Riberio trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riberio is one step ahead there.
Riberio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riberio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Jones.
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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Jones!
During a confident post fight interview, Jon Jones thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.