PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tain Bo Cuailnge (ranked 7061 p4p, 395 weight class) and William Jeffries (ranked 3861 p4p, 297 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bo Cuailnge
vs
Jeffries

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tain Bo Cuailnge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Jeffries!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jeffries jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Cuailnge closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jeffries's guard.
Cuailnge is standing up over Jeffries. Jeffries looks to escape but Cuailnge dives into side control.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Cuailnge stands up.

Cuailnge scores with a takedown into Jeffries's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cuailnge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cuailnge scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jeffries looking for a sweep. Not yet Jeffries, not yet.
Cuailnge pushes down on Jeffries's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jeffries wants to get back to full guard.
Cuailnge keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Cuailnge is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jeffries is just riding it out for now. Cuailnge eventually gives up the hold.
Cuailnge controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jeffries looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cuailnge seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jeffries is concentrating on defense, preventing Cuailnge from advancing position.
Cuailnge working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cuailnge controlling the pace.

Cuailnge stands up and beckons Jeffries to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries is looking to clinch but Cuailnge is avoiding it.
Cuailnge drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jeffries sprawls and moves away.
Jeffries keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jeffries will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cuailnge is looking for a counter combo.
William Jeffries is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cuailnge gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice takedown defense from Jeffries. No joy for Cuailnge on that attempt.
Cuailnge on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Cuailnge closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jeffries did well to prevent Cuailnge getting side control.
Jeffries pushes Cuailnge off but Cuailnge dives into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Cuailnge.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuailnge throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cuailnge fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cuailnge in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Cuailnge is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Jeffries will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cuailnge scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jeffries to see if he's OK.
Cuailnge controls the position from side control.
The ground and pound from Cuailnge seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tain Bo Cuailnge dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cuailnge gets tackled into the cage by Jeffries. Jeffries maintains the clinch.
Cuailnge jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jeffries walks away with a smile on his face. Cuailnge gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jeffries tries to clinch up but Cuailnge circles away and keeps his distance.
Cuailnge attempts a counter takedown but Jeffries avoids it well and moves away.
Cuailnge looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A little jabbing left from Jeffries on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tain Bo Cuailnge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jeffries tries to clinch up but Cuailnge circles away and keeps his distance.
As Jeffries looks to move away, Cuailnge throws a big counter combo but Jeffries just gets out of the way.
Cuailnge takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jeffries comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jeffries lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jeffries lands a nice looking body shot.
Jeffries defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cuailnge.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tain Bo Cuailnge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jeffries lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Jeffries gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jeffries scores with a shot to the side of Cuailnge's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuailnge is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jeffries stalling the fight.
Cuailnge is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jeffries to keep the fight standing.
Jeffries gets underhooks to prevent Cuailnge's takedown attempt.
Cuailnge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jeffries is defending well for now.

Cuailnge lands a takedown into guard.
Jeffries really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cuailnge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cuailnge got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jeffries has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cuailnge has managed to get both his arms back between Jeffries's legs - danger averted.
Cuailnge is stalling in the full guard.
Cuailnge trying to control but Jeffries is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries working a defensive guard but Cuailnge passes into half guard.
Jeffries trying to control here.

Cuailnge is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jeffries sees it coming and defends easily.
Cuailnge wants to control but Jeffries is keeping him busy.

Cuailnge decides to stand and escape the position.
A lazy left from Jeffries finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries cracks Cuailnge with a good jab.
Jeffries lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A nice combination there by Jeffries.
Jeffries scores with a body shot.
William Jeffries seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cuailnge avoids the body shot from Jeffries.
Jeffries tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cuailnge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cuailnge seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Jeffries fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jeffries clobbers Cuailnge with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jeffries tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cuailnge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jeffries scores with a one two! Cuailnge had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jeffries ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jeffries connects with the punch.
Jeffries misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries scores with a hook.

Jeffries closes the distance and clinches.
Jeffries stalling.
Cuailnge changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jeffries fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cuailnge looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jeffries looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A lazy body kick from Cuailnge
and Jeffries counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jeffries tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cuailnge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jeffries fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cuailnge looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jeffries connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Good shot there by Jeffries.
Jeffries lands with an uppercut that bounces Cuailnge off the cage and back into range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Jeffries showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jeffries clinches up against the cage.
Cuailnge tries to pull guard but Jeffries holds him up against the cage and eventually Cuailnge drops back down to his feet.
Cuailnge tries to throw a body punch but Jeffries avoids it by throwing Cuailnge back against the cage.
Jeffries is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cuailnge drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jeffries pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cuailnge fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tain Bo Cuailnge. 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.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jeffries.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jeffries closes the distance and pushes Cuailnge back into the cage.
Cuailnge is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jeffries to keep the fight standing.
Jeffries has had enough of the clinch but Cuailnge keeps him there for the moment.
Cuailnge is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jeffries is trying to maintain a safe position but Cuailnge gets an underhook and turns Jeffries into the cage.
Cuailnge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jeffries is defending well for now.
Cuailnge fails to pull guard.
Jeffries lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Cuailnge jumps into guard, dragging Jeffries to the mat.
Jeffries controlling from the top position.
Jeffries must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jeffries trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jeffries trying to control but Cuailnge is working from the bottom.
Cuailnge not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jeffries trying to control the position from guard on top but Cuailnge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jeffries being controlled here momentarily.

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.
Jeffries looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jeffries misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cuailnge.
Jeffries lands a jab.
Jeffries wants to clinch up but Cuailnge keeps it at a distance.
Cuailnge tries to counter with a takedown but Jeffries is quick to defend against it.
Jeffries tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cuailnge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Cuailnge was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nice sprawl there from Jeffries as Cuailnge shoots in.
Jeffries lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jeffries has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cuailnge gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jeffries.
Cuailnge moves forwards but Jeffries connects with a nice, crisp jab.
William Jeffries is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Jeffries forces Cuailnge back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuailnge jumps guard but Jeffries stands there with Cuailnge around his waist. Cuailnge gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cuailnge looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Jeffries is stalling here.
Cuailnge tries to pull guard but Jeffries won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cuailnge has Jeffries pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jeffries manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jeffries has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cuailnge jumps guard but Jeffries stands there with Cuailnge around his waist. Cuailnge gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jeffries softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tain Bo Cuailnge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeffries taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Jeffries comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jeffries 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for William Jeffries!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for William Jeffries!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for William Jeffries!

William Jeffries wins by unanimous decision!