PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Jones (ranked 755 p4p, 2372 weight class) and Japa Koniu (ranked 102 p4p, 295 weight class). Jones comes to the cage accompanied by Knockin' On Heavens Door Johnny Cash. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jones
vs
Koniu

200 cm
31
250
15 - 12 - 1

198 cm
42
235
26 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bubba Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 25 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koniu slips a straight right by Jones.
Koniu misses with a low kick.
Jones connects with a looping right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Jones darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Jones walks forward, straight into a front kick from Koniu.
Koniu just misses with a punch to the body.
Koniu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Koniu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Koniu lands a head shot.
Koniu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jones looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koniu.
Koniu wants to counter with a clinch but Jones pushes him away.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koniu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koniu moves away.
Koniu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jones.
Jones delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniu staying out of range there.

Koniu closes the distance and clinches.
Jones lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Koniu.
Koniu can't find room to land a body shot as Jones controls the action.
Koniu is trying to stall.
Jones lands a right hand that snaps the head of Koniu backwards.
Koniu swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.

Jones pulls guard.
Koniu wants to stand but Jones is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jones is pulling down on Koniu's head. It's preventing any offense from Koniu, at least for the moment.

Koniu stands up and waves to Jones to follow him.
Jones throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jones throws a hook but Koniu blocks it.
Koniu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jones scores with a head kick. Koniu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Japa Koniu has been cut.
Nice jab there from Jones.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Koniu just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Koniu 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Koniu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jones.

Jones shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Koniu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Koniu is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Koniu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jones is controlling him.

Koniu pushes Jones off and gets back to his feet.
Jones sizes up Koniu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jones misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koniu misses with a kick to the body.
Jones checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Koniu. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Koniu throws a fast counter high kick but Jones manages to duck under it in time.
Koniu moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Jones was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Koniu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Koniu tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Koniu's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Koniu's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jones shoots in and drives through. Koniu sprawls well.
Jones lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Koniu misses with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koniu throws out a loose jab but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jones throwing a counter right hand but Koniu manages to avoid it.
Jones throws out a powerful jab.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
Jones sets himself, and Koniu steps forward looking for the clinch! Jones avoids it this time.
Koniu throws a low kick but Jones avoids it.
Jones displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Koniu throws out the jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jones.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Japa Koniu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Koniu misses with a right hand
and Jones counters with a three punch combo that has Koniu backing up. Koniu nods at Jones to acknowledge the strikes.
Jab by Jones.
Koniu tries to move into range but Jones moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koniu lands a lovely overhand right.
Koniu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A big left from Jones misses.
Jones keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Koniu.
Jones takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koniu can do to turn this around?
Jones works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bubba Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones throws a leg kick but Koniu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jones throws a hook but Koniu avoids it easily.
Jones gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koniu avoids a kick to the body.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Koniu slips the punch.
Jones tries to land a front kick but Koniu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jones waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koniu.
Koniu wants to counter the offense by Jones and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Koniu 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Koniu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Koniu. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Jones feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Konius jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jones misses with an attempted mid kick.
Koniu wants to counter the offense by Jones and move into the clinch position.
Koniu punishes Jones's body with a nice straight punch.
Jones shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Koniu misses with a leg kick.
Koniu misses with a looping right.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Koniu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Koniu tries to counter with a clinch but Jones shakes him off and moves away.
Bubba Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koniu moves out of range of the leg kick from Jones.
Jones moves away from the strike by Koniu.
Koniu throws a chopping leg kick but Jones manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Koniu misses with a head kick.
Jones connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Koniu is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Koniu circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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 shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koniu defends it nicely.
Jones misses with a body kick.
Koniu wants to counter with a clinch but Jones pushes him away.
Koniu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Japa Koniu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones lands a jab.

Jones drives through and clinches with Koniu against the cage.
Jones gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Jones.
Koniu trying to stall but Jones improves his position.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Koniu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Jones creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones pulls guard effortlessly.
Koniu wants to stand but Jones is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koniu is one step ahead there.

Koniu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Koniu moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Jones lands a head shot.
Koniu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jones.
Koniu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Koniu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jones looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jones misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jones connects with a solid leg kick.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Koniu is just out of range.
Koniu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones lands with a straight right. Koniu didn't see that one coming.
Koniu tries to score with a low kick but Jones moves his leg out of the way.
Koniu missing with a left hand there. Jones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jones connects with a looping right hand.
A big left from Jones misses.
Jones with a jab.
Koniu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jones.
Koniu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Koniu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jones.
Koniu moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Jones connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Koniu's hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Jones dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Japa Koniu's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Koniu lands a two punch combo.
Koniu misses the jab.
Jones swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jones is looking to land body kicks.
Koniu blocks a jab.
Koniu is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Koniu throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Koniu. That did some damage!

Jones gets a takedown into half guard.
Koniu is trying to escape back to his feet but Jones uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Jones wants to control but Koniu is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Koniu is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniu tries to escape but Jones is in control.
Koniu is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koniu keeps working.
Koniu is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Koniu takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jones prevents Koniu from escaping the position.
Koniu is not content to let Jones control the position.
Jones working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koniu 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 is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Koniu has escaped the position, nice work there.
Koniu trying to remain calm as Jones controls from the top position.
Koniu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jones asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koniu keeps working.
Koniu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Jones has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koniu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jones checks it well.
Koniu avoids a kick to the body.
That kick from Jones tenderised Koniu's leg. Koniu is trying to keep his angry face on.

Koniu moves into range and clinches up with Jones.
Jones looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Jones lands a right hand that snaps the head of Koniu backwards.
Jones scores with a nice hook to the head.
Koniu trying to land knees to the body.
Koniu looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jones misses with an elbow over the top.
Jones cracks Koniu with a nice body shot.

Jones gets control of Koniu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jones will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Koniu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Koniu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Koniu moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koniu, pushing him back against the cage.
Koniu misses with an elbow over the top.
Jones blocks a body shot from Koniu.
Koniu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones jumps guard but Koniu stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones lands a nice uppercut.
Good body shot from Jones.
Koniu throws a head punch that misses.

Koniu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Jones misses.
Koniu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jones.
Jones misses with a straight right.
Jones lands with a thumping leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Jones. Beautiful body shot.
Jones works Koniu's body with a nice hook.
Japa Koniu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donk. Jones catches Koniu right on the button with a cross.
Koniu bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jones's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jones has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Jones!
Bubba Jones made sure to mention his sponsor, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing in his post fight interview.