PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nils Holgersson (ranked 1187 p4p, 132 weight class) and Brian Jones (ranked 803 p4p, 94 weight class). Holgersson comes into the arena with Theme blaring out of the sound system. Jones comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Take my hand kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Holgersson
vs
Jones

169 cm
35
157 lbs
28 - 20 - 0

165 cm
29
146 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite 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 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Holgersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brian Jones!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holgersson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Holgersson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Holgersson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holgersson missing with knees to the body.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holgersson's elbow.
Jones blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Holgersson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holgersson tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Holgersson drops back down to his feet.

Holgersson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Jones is looking to regain half guard here but Holgersson keeps moving and retains side control.
Jones manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holgersson is trying to get back to full guard.
Holgersson trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holgersson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Jones seems to be working for a kimura but Holgersson defends the submission attempt.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Holgersson trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Holgersson tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.

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.
Holgersson is trying to control but can't.
Holgersson is looking for a sweep. Jones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Jones seems to be working for a kimura but Holgersson defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holgersson is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Holgersson trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Holgersson is looking for a sweep. Jones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones seems to be working for a kimura but Holgersson defends the submission attempt.

Jones is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Holgersson keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Holgersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holgersson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holgersson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holgersson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jones pulls Holgersson in close to prevent any damage.
Jones is trying to keep Holgersson in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holgersson 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 looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
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 Nils Holgersson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones takes a kick to the side of the head.
Jones lands a nice looking body shot.
Holgersson misses with a takedown
and Jones counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Holgersson misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a low kick, right behind Holgersson 's knee.
Holgersson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Nils Holgersson has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Holgersson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jones circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nils Holgersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones stuffs the takedown.
Jones lands a head shot.
Jones fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Holgersson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Holgersson throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Jones now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jones lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holgersson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jones's head.
Holgersson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jones but Jones pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones thuds a left hand into Holgersson's body.
Jones is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Holgersson rather than just go for the knockout.
Holgersson misses with a takedown attempt
and Jones counters with a nice body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Holgersson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Holgersson tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick lands from Jones.
Holgersson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Jones counters with a nice low kick that buckles Holgersson's knee momentarily.
Brian Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones connects with a body shot that sends Holgersson's belly button to the back.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Holgersson.
Jones swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones connects with a body shot.
Brian Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holgersson throws out the jab.
Jones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Holgersson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jones did well to prevent Holgersson getting side control.
Jones moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holgersson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holgersson distracts Jones with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Holgersson from controlling successfully.
Jones looking to control.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holgersson is one step ahead there.
Holgersson looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holgersson looking for a guillotine here but Jones defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nils Holgersson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holgersson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jones to the mat! Jones manages to get full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones is on top in guard.

Jones passes Holgersson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Holgersson is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Holgersson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jones is pressing down on Holgersson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holgersson is holding on for now.
Holgersson manages to get to full guard.

Holgersson looking for subs off his back but Jones has passed one foot through into half guard.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Holgersson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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 is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Holgersson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jones.
Holgersson moves into full guard.
Holgersson controlling the position.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Holgersson is retaining full guard.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Holgersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holgersson is looking for a triangle but Jones pushes his legs off easily.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Holgersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Holgersson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Jones stands and throws Holgersson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Jones wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holgersson, who protects the arm well.
A lull in the action here as Jones stalls from top position.

That's four 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 working away.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holgersson keeps working.
Holgersson wants to control but Jones postures up.
Holgersson is not content to let Jones control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jones.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Jones!
During a confident post fight interview, Brian Jones thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Nils Holgersson was interviewed post fight and said 'Fyfan!'.