PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Taylor (ranked 6189 p4p, 3204 weight class) and Darwin Jones (ranked 603 p4p, 393 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Taylor
vs
Jones

190 cm
23
186
4 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
185
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darwin Jones!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones scores with a jab to the body.
Jones smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Jones forces Taylor back against the cage and clinches.
Jones is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jones.
Jones unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jones holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jones told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Taylor with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones scores with a nice body kick.

Taylor clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones checks a low kick from Taylor.
Taylor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jones scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taylor doesn't seem bothered though.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
Jones throws a nice head kick!
Jones scores with a head kick. Taylor tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Taylor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jones tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.

Jones pushes Taylor off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jones fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jones scores with a kick to the midsection.

Jones moves into the clinch.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones stalks Taylor and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taylor's face. Taylor staggers backwards, shaken.
Jones lands a leg kick that knocks Taylor off balance momentarily.
Jones moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Jones shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Taylor manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Taylor has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Jones is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Taylor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jones is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to control Jones's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taylor has his back to the cage.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones lands with a thumping leg kick.

Jones moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jones takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Jones pushes Taylor back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Jones is working for takedown but Taylor is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor fails to pull guard.
Jones utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jones scores a nice knee to the body.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Jones forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Jones.
Taylor wants a takedown.
Jones lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darwin Jones dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jones fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jones moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Jones pushes Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Taylor up against the cage.
Jones lands an elbow inside that Taylor shrugs off.

It looks like Steve Taylor has been cut.
Jones prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor being controlled against the cage.
Taylor goes for a takedown attempt but Jones pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Jones moves into the clinch.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jones.
Taylor tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jones clinches.
Jones prevents Taylor from breaking the clinch.
Jones landing knees to the head.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jones lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Jones working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taylor fails to pull guard.
Darwin Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steve Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Taylor tries to counter by clinching up but Jones breaks away and moves out of range.

Jones clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones landing knees to the body.
Taylor jumps guard but Jones stands there with Taylor around his waist. Taylor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taylor is pressed up against the cage. Jones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taylor down to the mat. Taylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jones ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jones lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Taylor leaves Jones with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Taylor misses the target.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Jones doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Jones explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Jones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Taylor can't get the takedown.
Jones taking a breather.

Jones breaks from the clinch.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Jones is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Taylor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darwin Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Taylor's cut.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jones connects with a solid leg kick.
Jones leaves Taylor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones with a nice calf kick.
Jones fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jones is looking to slow Taylor down with leg kicks.
Taylor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taylor defends well and Jones ends up having to push Taylor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jones.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.
Steve Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darwin Jones.
Taylor takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jones throws out a powerful jab.
Taylor is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Taylor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Darwin Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick from Jones, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Jones lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jones jabs at Taylor's body.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones jabs Taylor to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taylor takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jones feints and then cracks Taylor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taylor down.
Jones connects with a leg kick.
Jones scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jones turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taylor gets a takedown into half guard.

Jones kicks off Taylor and gets to his feet.
Taylor on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A low kick lands for Jones.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor throws a big counter combination but Jones scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Taylor misses with a kick to the body.
Darwin Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jones fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Taylor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Taylor sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taylor tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Good leg kick by Jones.
Jones with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Taylor.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Taylor wants a takedown.

Jones breaks from the clinch.

Taylor shoots in and bounces Jones off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Jones scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Darwin Jones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jones lands with a slapping head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jones.
Jones lands a head kick!
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Taylor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Taylor has his takedown stuffed
and Jones counters with a right hand to the body.
Jones connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jones with a jab.
Steve Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Taylor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darwin Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jones has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darwin Jones!
Darwin Jones was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.