PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roger Jones (ranked 3632 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 8564 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jones
vs
Al Saadoun

199 cm
25
158 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roger Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 13 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Al Saadoun sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Al Saadoun looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Al Saadoun.

Jones moves into the clinch.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones throws a head kick that Al Saadoun semi-blocks.

Jones pushes Al Saadoun up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones jumps guard but Al Saadoun turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jones with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jones tries to break the clinch but Al Saadoun is controlling the position.
Al Saadoun tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Al Saadoun has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Al Saadoun fails to pull guard.
Al Saadoun takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jones gets underhooks to prevent Al Saadoun's takedown attempt.

Jones gets control of Al Saadoun's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jones will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to keep Al Saadoun in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Saadoun makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Jones is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Al Saadoun defends well.
Jones knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Saadoun on the ground.
Jones thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails to land the takedown.

Al Saadoun shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jones manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jones striking off his back but it's not causing Al Saadoun any problems.
Jones really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Al Saadoun throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jones looking to control.
Al Saadoun trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Al Saadoun is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones closes the distance and clinches up with Al Saadoun, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes Al Saadoun against the cage but Al Saadoun circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Saadoun stuffs the takedown.
Al Saadoun raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Al Saadoun moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Al Saadoun sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Jones dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Al Saadoun swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jones counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Al Saadoun back into the cage.
Jones tries to circle away but Al Saadoun has him pinned against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Jones.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Al Saadoun has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jones.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Al Saadoun shows good takedown defense.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Saadoun can do to turn this around?
Al Saadoun stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage.

Jones ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jones no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Al Saadoun from controlling successfully.
Al Saadoun is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Al Saadoun is aware though and is defending well.
Jones is trying to control the position but Al Saadoun postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Al Saadoun throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Jones takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jones wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jones lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Al Saadoun or not.
Al Saadoun is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jones is keeping busy.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but Al Saadoun has the dominant position.
Al Saadoun prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones drops down looking for an ankle pick but Al Saadoun pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Saadoun closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jones's guard.
Jones working a defensive guard here.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Al Saadoun gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Al Saadoun sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun preventing the sweep.
Al Saadoun looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Al Saadoun forces his way into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Jones dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones rushes Al Saadoun and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jones stalling in the clinch but Al Saadoun improves position.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Al Saadoun smiles and moves away.
Jones goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Jones lands with a slapping head kick.
Al Saadoun scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones clinches up with Al Saadoun and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Jones.
Al Saadoun's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Al Saadoun's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Al Saadoun after a bit of a struggle.
Al Saadoun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones tries to break free but Al Saadoun pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Jones.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jones.
Roger Jones has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones jumps guard and drags Al Saadoun to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Al Saadoun won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Al Saadoun is proving a slippery customer.
Al Saadoun controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to keep Al Saadoun in close.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Al Saadoun defends it easily.
Jones looking to control.

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.

Al Saadoun tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jones keeps control of Al Saadoun as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones is looking to break free of the clinch but Al Saadoun has double underhooks.
Jones is trying to push Al Saadoun away but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Al Saadoun tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.

Jones pulls guard effortlessly.
Al Saadoun's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Al Saadoun wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Jones working for a triangle but Al Saadoun defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Saadoun passes into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones is trying to control Al Saadoun's posture but Al Saadoun avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Jones!