PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Encarnacion (ranked 4131 p4p, 4127 weight class) and CC Jones (ranked 461 p4p, 460 weight class). Encarnacion kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Por Debajo de la Mesa - Luis Miguel. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Encarnacion
vs
Jones

215 cm
24
170
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Encarnacion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, CC Jones!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jones with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jones is taking a breather. Encarnacion says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Encarnacion is trying to get back to full guard.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Encarnacion is working away.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Encarnacion is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones is nestled in close to Encarnacion, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Jones trying to control the action but Encarnacion is working from the bottom.
Jones is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Encarnacion is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Encarnacion is looking to improve his position.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jones with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Encarnacion really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Encarnacion wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Encarnacion misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Encarnacion tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Encarnacion misses with the combination.
Jones is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Encarnacion with a body shot.
Alex Encarnacion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Some wild striking there from Encarnacion.
Encarnacion swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jones misses with a wild combination.
Encarnacion lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
A little jabbing left from Jones on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Encarnacion slips a jab and a cross from Jones.
Encarnacion misses with a hook to the body
and Jones counters with a series of strikes. Encarnacion will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jones looking to score a takedown here. Encarnacion is defending well but Jones drives through and ends up in Encarnacion's guard.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Encarnacion is retaining full guard.
Jones is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Encarnacion keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Encarnacion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Encarnacion keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Encarnacion keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Encarnacion throws a body kick that misses.
Encarnacion lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
Encarnacion is breathing heavily.
Encarnacion tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Encarnacion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones just content to control the position.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Encarnacion keeps working.
Encarnacion takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Encarnacion keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CC Jones dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones takes one on the chin but seems OK.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Encarnacion paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Encarnacion works the jab nicely.
Encarnacion misses with a body shot.
Jones throws a fast counter high kick but Encarnacion manages to duck under it in time.
Jones takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Encarnacion is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jones.
Jones is looking for the big counter here.
Encarnacion scores with a three punch combo!
Alex Encarnacion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones throws a series of punches but Encarnacion avoids them all with ease.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Encarnacion shows good takedown defense.
Jones uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Encarnacion.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Encarnacion wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Alex Encarnacion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones looks to land a left hand but Encarnacion moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Encarnacion.
Jones is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Encarnacion with a hook.
Encarnacion misses with a series of wild punches.
Encarnacion misses with a combination
and Jones counters with a series of strikes. Encarnacion will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Encarnacion rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jones moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Encarnacion does it's job there.
Encarnacion thuds his right hand into Jones's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Encarnacion fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Encarnacion throws a lazy right hand but Jones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Encarnacion throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
CC Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Encarnacion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jones lands a couple of digs.
Jones stops Encarnacion from standing up.

Jones is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jones works over Encarnacion with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jones is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones advances to half guard.
Jones not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jones controlling the pace.
Jones thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Encarnacion's head.
Encarnacion is not content to let Jones control the position.
Jones working over Encarnacion with some ground and pound. Encarnacion looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones is taking a breather. Encarnacion says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jones working Encarnacion over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.
Encarnacion wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Encarnacion is trying to control but Jones manages to pass to mount!
Jones with the ground and pound from mount.
Jones lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jones is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Encarnacion can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but CC Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jones blocks a head kick by Encarnacion.
Jones takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Encarnacion lands a body shot.
A slow jab from Encarnacion misses its intended target.
Encarnacion throws a body shot but no joy.
Encarnacion looks to score with a jab to the body but Jones is just out of range.
Encarnacion walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Encarnacion pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Jones.
Encarnacion gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Encarnacion tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Jones is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Encarnacion buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Encarnacion!! Encarnacion is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Jones throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). CC Jones!
Alex Encarnacion was interviewed post fight and said 'I just want to thank everyone for their support. It means a lot to me. I'll learn from this and come back better.'.