PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones comes to the cage accompanied by Jonny Jones Mix. Hanamichi Sakuragi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jones
vs
Sakuragi

193 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonny Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones throws a half hearted mid kick.

Sakuragi shoots in and bounces Jones off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is really struggling to control Sakuragi but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuragi is aware though and is defending well.
Sakuragi looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Sakuragi defends easily.
Sakuragi preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuragi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuragi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sakuragi's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jones cracks Sakuragi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jones has been working on his boxing with his coaches at WildBoar's Pig Pen (Strength and Conditioning) $40 in the buildup to the fight.

Sakuragi darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.

Sakuragi pulls Jones into guard.
Jones postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sakuragi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jones trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Jones postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakuragi working a defensive guard here.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sakuragi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuragi.
Sakuragi working a defensive guard here.
Jones scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sakuragi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sakuragi trying to control the position.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sakuragi wants to sweep but no luck.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones works over Sakuragi with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones wants to control from the top but Sakuragi keeps moving.
Sakuragi wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Sakuragi blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jonny Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sakuragi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jones did well to prevent Sakuragi getting side control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jones manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sakuragi defends it easily.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones wants to sweep here but Sakuragi controlling him for the moment.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hanamichi Sakuragi has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakuragi trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuragi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi 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 is looking for a triangle but Sakuragi pushes his legs off easily.
Sakuragi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Sakuragi defends easily.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuragi is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Sakuragi tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sakuragi 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 has his foot on Sakuragi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sakuragi works his way back into a safe position though.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuragi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuragi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Jones misses with a looping left.

Sakuragi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sakuragi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jones trying to hold on to Sakuragi's head to control him but Sakuragi postures up.
Jones is looking for a sweep. Sakuragi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sakuragi is looking for a kimura but Jones is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sakuragi to get the leverage.
Sakuragi throws a strike but Jones avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Jones working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sakuragi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sakuragi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuragi is aware though and is defending well.

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

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sakuragi preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sakuragi 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanamichi Sakuragi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sakuragi clinches with his opponent.

Sakuragi jumps guard and drags Jones to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sakuragi is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Jones works over Sakuragi with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones trying to control but Sakuragi is working from the bottom.
Sakuragi 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've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones postures up.

Sakuragi working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.
Jones with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sakuragi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuragi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sakuragi trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Sakuragi has Jones pulled in close to control his posture.
Sakuragi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuragi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hanamichi Sakuragi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A leg kick checked by Sakuragi.

Sakuragi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Jones pulls guard effortlessly.

Jones working for a triangle but Sakuragi defends it easily.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuragi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Sakuragi defends easily.
Jones is trying to keep Sakuragi in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sakuragi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuragi is looking to stand up but Jones won't let him.

Sakuragi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Sakuragi defends easily.
Sakuragi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sakuragi is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sakuragi trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Jones!
A relieved looking Jonny Jones thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.