PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between I Am (ranked 441 p4p, 50 weight class) and Malik Jones (ranked 733 p4p, 76 weight class). Am's entrance music is Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II. A fine choice. Malik Jones has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Am
vs
Jones

175 cm
33
149 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

169 cm
37
142 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, I Am!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malik Jones!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Am, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones wants to clinch.
Am ducks right into an uppercut from Jones.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice jab there from Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Am checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Am drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jones sprawls and moves away.
Jones scores with a leg kick.
Am fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Am blocks a jab.
It appears Am was looking to counter with a kick there.

Jones has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones tries to throw a body punch but Am avoids it by throwing Jones back against the cage.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.

Am breaks the clinch.
Jones misses with an uppercut.
Am tried to score with a low kick but Jones checks it.
Jones changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jones throws a right hand that misses
and Am counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jones with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Am to score with a decent uppercut.
Jones chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Am can pounce on him.
Jones scores with a push kick.
Am 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.
Am throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones wants to counter with a clinch but Am pushes him away.
Jones lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Am drops his hands momentarily and Jones takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jones, right into the meat.
Jones lands a leg kick that knocks Am off balance momentarily.
Jones is looking to clinch but Am is avoiding it.
Am half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Am is looking to slow Jones down with leg kicks.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jones goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by Am. Am maintains the clinch.
Am prevents a body shot from Jones.
Am lands a nice shot to the body.
Am doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Am is trying to pull guard but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for I Am. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Am prevents a body shot from Jones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Am.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Am controls his hands.
Jones lands with a short shot to the head.

Am pulls Jones into guard.
Am trying to control the position.
Am controlling the position.
Am looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Am looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Am is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jones wants to control from the top but Am keeps moving.
Jones looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Am has wrist control.

Jones avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Am's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones misses with a series of wild punches.

Jones instigates a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Am.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Am.
Jones fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Am goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Am drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jones pulls his leg out and moves away.
Malik Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones thuds his right hand into Am's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Am is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jones.
Jones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Am uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jones.
Jones misses with a two punch combination.
Am is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Jones.

Jones forces Am back against the cage and clinches.
Jones misses with some punches.
Jones throws a punch but it's blocked by Am.
Jones lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones digs a right hand into Am's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Am's gas tank.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Am.
Jones lands a shot to the body.
Jones working aggressively here.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Am misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Am throws a punch but it's blocked by Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Am controls his hands.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jones misses with a punch to the body.
Am tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Am drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for I Am. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones can't find room to land a body shot as Am controls the action.
Am prevents a takedown attempt there.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Am.
Am changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Jones misses.
Jones falls off balance throwing a combination

and Am counters with a takedown into side control.
Am trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to regain half guard here but Am keeps moving and retains side control.
Am moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Jones gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Jones keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Am is stalling here but it's allowed Jones to get half guard.

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.
Am trying to control the pace.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Am is very close to passing his half guard.
Jones might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Am haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Am is keen to just control but Jones is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jones holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Am moves into range and clinches up with Jones.
Malik Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Am's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Am blocks a body shot from Jones.
Am takes a shot to the head.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Am controls his hands.
Am has a couple of punches blocked by Jones.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jones.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Am lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jones.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Am tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jones misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Am.
Am doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones lands a left hand that snaps the head of Am backwards.
Am misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
Am wants a takedown but no success here.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Am uses good head movement to avoid it.
Am can't get the takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jones.
Am is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for I Am. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Am's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jones tries to work over Am's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a left hand.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Jones.
Am misses with a hook to the ribs.
Am gets through Jones's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
I Am has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Am.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
Am blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right hand to the body from Jones.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Am uses good head movement to avoid it.
Am doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jones misses with some punches.
Jones blocking some punches.
Jones tries to work over Am's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Am blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Jones scores with a hook to the body.
Jones tries to work over Am's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jones lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jones misses with some punches.
Jones lands a right hand.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Am blocks an uppercut.
Malik Jones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Am working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Am 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 fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Jones.
Am lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jones lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Am pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Am's elbow.
Jones lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Jones.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jones misses with the head strike.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jones scores with a shoulder strike.
Jones lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Am blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jones tries to work over Am's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Am tries a body shot but Jones blocks it.
Jones lands a shot to the body.
Jones blocking some punches.

Am breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Am misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malik Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jones 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik Jones!
Malik Jones bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.