PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Jefferson (ranked 4578 p4p, 4244 weight class) and Neny Mbaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jefferson
vs
Mbaya

185 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Jefferson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neny Mbaya!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferson ducks under a wild hook from Mbaya.
Neny Mbaya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jefferson moves into the clinch.
Mbaya takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Neny Mbaya has been cut.
Mbaya is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jefferson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mbaya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Jefferson manages to break the clinch.
Mbaya misses the jab.

Jefferson closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jefferson stalling the fight.
Mbaya is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jefferson is keeping busy.

Jefferson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jefferson manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mbaya keeps working.
Jefferson wants to stand but Mbaya is controlling his arm.

Jefferson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mbaya has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jefferson but great work by Mbaya.
Jefferson can't do much from the bottom here.
Mbaya is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The strikes coming from Mbaya are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mbaya tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson is not content to let Mbaya control the position.
Mbaya should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
A lull in the action here as Mbaya stalls from top position.
Mbaya fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Mbaya crashes against the mat.
Mbaya controls the position.
An elbow from Mbaya crashes against the mat.
Jefferson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mbaya on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Mbaya stalls from top position.
Mbaya has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mbaya throws an elbow but Jefferson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jefferson is breathing heavily.
Jefferson is not content to let Mbaya control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mbaya misses the jab.
Mbaya misses the jab.

Jefferson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jefferson lands in his opponent's guard.
Mbaya manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jefferson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mbaya tries to free his leg and advance position but Jefferson is retaining full guard.
Mbaya throwing strikes but missing.
Mbaya throws a big elbow that misses.
Jefferson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mbaya.
Jefferson trying to control the position.
Mbaya stays in close to Jefferson's body and controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mbaya is looking to work some ground and pound but Jefferson has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neny Mbaya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Neny Mbaya's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mbaya misses the body punch
and Jefferson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jefferson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mbaya throws a series of punches but Jefferson moves out of range.
Jefferson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Jefferson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mbaya manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jefferson manages to get himself to full guard.

Jefferson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jefferson, not yet.
Mbaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jefferson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mbaya.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mbaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mbaya is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mbaya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mbaya trying to control but Jefferson is working from the bottom.
Jefferson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mbaya.
Jefferson can't keep his opponent in guard - Mbaya advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mbaya not doing much here.
Mbaya is nestled in close to Jefferson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mbaya wants to take a breather but Jefferson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jefferson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mbaya.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jefferson has a hand on Mbaya's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Mbaya takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Mbaya sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Jefferson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mbaya.
Jefferson taking shots to the head.
Jefferson taking shots to the head.
Mbaya throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Jefferson blocking the ground and pound.
Mbaya controlling from mount.
Mbaya lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson is squirming around, avoiding Mbaya's attempts to control the action.
Mbaya looking to finish Jefferson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jefferson!
Poor strikes thrown by Mbaya there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jefferson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mbaya tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jefferson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mbaya.
Mbaya is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jefferson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Neny Mbaya has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mbaya trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jefferson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mbaya tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mbaya controlling from mount.
Mbaya tries to control but Jefferson wriggling away.
Jefferson is bucking up trying to escape but Mbaya cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mbaya thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mbaya looking to ground and pound but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Mbaya trying to control but Jefferson is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neny Mbaya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Neny Mbaya's cut.
That's time! Jefferson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Jefferson moves out of range as Mbaya strikes.
It looked like Jefferson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mbaya misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jefferson.
Joshua Jefferson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jefferson avoids the body shot from Mbaya.
Jefferson is looking to counter the offense by Mbaya and move into the clinch.
Mbaya takes a swing at Jefferson's ribcage but misses.
Mbaya throws a body punch but Jefferson moves out of range.

Jefferson gets a clinch.

Jefferson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mbaya has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mbaya misses with a right hand
and Jefferson counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Mbaya throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Jefferson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mbaya napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Mbaya throws Jefferson to one side and escapes!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mbaya thows a left - swing and a miss!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mbaya just misses with a punch to the body.
Jefferson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mbaya avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson ducks under a wild hook from Mbaya.
A slow jab from Mbaya misses its intended target.
Jefferson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mbaya shoots for a takedown but Jefferson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Jefferson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mbaya gets back to half guard.
Mbaya moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mbaya lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Neny Mbaya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson being controlled here, momentarily.
Mbaya's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson keeping full guard, as Mbaya tries to pass.
Mbaya controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mbaya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mbaya lands a lovely overhand right.
Mbaya misses with a body shot.
Mbaya thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jefferson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mbaya misses with a looping right.
Mbaya is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jefferson.
Mbaya misses with a wild body shot.
Mbaya looks to throw the jab but Jefferson is out of range.
Mbaya tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jefferson was well out of range. Poor timing from Mbaya.
Mbaya misses with a hook. Jefferson ducked under it nicely.
Jefferson throws a big counter combination but Mbaya scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Joshua Jefferson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jefferson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mbaya's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neny Mbaya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mbaya 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neny Mbaya!