PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavius Nerva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jones
vs
Nerva

197 cm
21
262 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcus Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Flavius Nerva!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nerva misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jones with a poor takedown

and Nerva counters with a single leg into guard. Jones didn't expect that.
Nerva trying to move into half guard but instead Jones has managed to sweep!
Jones not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nerva is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nerva takes the fight into the clinch.

Jones pulls guard successfully.
Nerva tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Nerva 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 keeping moving, preventing Nerva from controlling successfully.
Nerva wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Nerva is stalling in the full guard.
Nerva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Nerva wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nerva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nerva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nerva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nerva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jones pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nerva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nerva shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jones.
A low kick from Nerva misses
and Jones counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jones has his takedown stuffed

and Nerva counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nerva goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jones has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nerva but great work by Jones.
Nerva wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nerva looks gassed!
Nerva is looking to reverse the position.
Jones working away.
Nerva is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Jones is staying active.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nerva pushes Jones away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jones gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Jones in side control, throwing shots but Nerva defends.
Nerva is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nerva.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nerva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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 can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nerva controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nerva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavius Nerva dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones feints and as Nerva raises his hands in defense, Jones changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nerva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
BOOM! Nerva connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nerva scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jones?
Nerva controlling from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nerva fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nerva controlling from the full mount.
Nerva cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nerva controlling from the full mount.
Nerva looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nerva controlling his opponent.

Nerva stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Nerva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jones!
Nerva looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nerva looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Despite being in the dominant position, Flavius Nerva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nerva feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jones pulls Nerva in to control the position.
Nerva passes Jones's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nerva wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nerva in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nerva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nerva in particular looking to stall.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Nerva sits in half guard.
Nerva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nerva is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavius Nerva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nerva darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Nerva is working for an americana but Jones has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Nerva was thinking about the submission.
Nerva trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Nerva is looking to advance position but Jones has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nerva tries to hold on but Jones postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nerva might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nerva is trying desperately to improve position.
Jones looking to control but Nerva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nerva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Nerva really wants to buck Jones off and get back to his feet.
Nerva regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nerva is looking to control Jones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nerva avoid being mounted?
Nerva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jones stands up from Nerva's guard - Jones perhaps looking for a knockout.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nerva managing to control the position.
Nerva working a defensive guard here.
Jones won't allow Nerva to sweep him here.
Nerva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
Nerva breaks from Jones's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Flavius Nerva has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nerva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nerva landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nerva takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Flavius Nerva just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nerva.
Marcus Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flavius Nerva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nerva remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flavius Nerva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nerva 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flavius Nerva!