PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cain Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gus Pappas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones comes to the cage accompanied by Hell's Bells- AC/DC. 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
Pappas

168 cm
21
149 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
27
156 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cain Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gus Pappas!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Pappas. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pappas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones attempts a counter takedown but Pappas avoids it well and moves away.

Pappas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Jones postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pappas is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jones, into his guard.
Jones wants to sweep here but Pappas controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pappas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pappas is one step ahead there.
Pappas content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappas wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pappas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pappas is one step ahead there.
Pappas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pappas looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pappas preventing the sweep.
Pappas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pappas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Pappas rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Pappas wants to get back to striking at distance but Jones won't allow it.
Jones wants to take the fight to the mat but Pappas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pappas gets underhooks to prevent Jones's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pappas tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pappas wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pappas prevents a takedown attempt there.

Pappas breaks the clinch.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab by Pappas.

It looks like Cain Jones has been cut.
Gus Pappas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pappas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pappas tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Pappas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Pappas lands a head shot.
Nice sprawl there from Pappas as Jones shoots in.
A little jabbing left from Pappas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pappas misses the shot to the body.
Gus Pappas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Pappas.

Pappas rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Pappas is looking to break free of the clinch but Jones has double underhooks.

Pappas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pappas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pappas tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pappas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gus Pappas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cain Jones's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pappas takes a swing at Jones's ribcage but misses.
Cain Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Jones shoots in and gets a takedown into Pappas's guard.
Jones's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jones preventing the sweep.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pappas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pappas controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pappas's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pappas moves into full guard.
Pappas 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pappas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
Pappas misses with a looping right.
Pappas is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jones rather than just go for the knockout.
Pappas looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
It looked like Jones wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gus Pappas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pappas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jones moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pappas stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Pappas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
and Pappas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pappas jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pappas swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pappas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Jones wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pappas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pappas wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pappas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pappas misses with a straight left.
Pappas throws a hook but Jones blocks it.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Pappas sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pappas sprawls well. Pappas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Pappas.
Nice takedown defense from Pappas. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Jones swinging wildly here.
Pappas with a nice cross.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pappas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pappas throws a hook to the side of Jones's head but Jones sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jones changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jones uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pappas.
Pappas misses with a few strikes there.
Jones looks for a takedown but Pappas sprawls well.
Pappas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jones feinted with a counter takedown.
Pappas throws a shot to the body.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Pappas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pappas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pappas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gus Pappas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cain Jones's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A slow jab from Pappas misses its intended target.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pappas sprawls well. Pappas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pappas stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Pappas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jones.
Jones displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pappas throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Pappas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pappas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Pappas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pappas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Pappas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pappas now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Pappas cracks Jones with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Pappas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jones is looking for a counter combo.
Pappas swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
It looked like Jones wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pappas swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
Pappas just misses with a punch to the body.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pappas.
Pappas stalks Jones and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jones's face. Jones staggers backwards, shaken.

Jones is rocked!
Pappas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pappas tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Oh Jones is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pappas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jones feinted with a counter takedown.
Pappas misses with a few strikes there.
Jones drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pappas sprawls and moves away.
Jones seems to have got his legs back now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pappas misses with a double jab.
Jones ducks right into an uppercut from Pappas.
Pappas throws a body shot but no joy.
As Pappas looks to move away, Jones throws a big counter combo bu Pappas just gets out of the way.
Pappas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Pappas throws out a counter right but Jones avoids it with no problem.
Pappas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jones under the eye.
Nice takedown defense from Pappas. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Pappas doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jones.
Pappas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Pappas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gus Pappas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pappas is adopting a defensive guard.

Pappas pushes Jones off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Cain Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pappas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pappas wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pappas's waist but Pappas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
Pappas tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pappas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Pappas punishes Jones's body with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pappas pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jones back to the cage. Pappas follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pappas throws a right and a left that Jones avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gus Pappas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pappas 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gus Pappas!