PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 2680 p4p, 3293 weight class) and Portin Vartija (ranked 324 p4p, 385 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jones
vs
Vartija

194 cm
24
220
9 - 7 - 0

195 cm
22
215
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Un-Kaged Nutrition
KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Portin Vartija!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vartija unleashes a big counter combination but Jones bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Jones throws a jab but it's blocked by Vartija.
Despite the aggression on Vartija's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones misses with a body shot.
Despite the aggression on Vartija's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jones with a poor takedown

and Vartija counters with a crisp one two that drops Jones! Vartija thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Jones to his feet! Jones is in big trouble!
Vartija looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vartija was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Jones looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones rushes Vartija and presses him up against the cage.
Vartija has Jones pushed against the cage.
Jones throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Vartija controls his hands.
Jones throws an elbow but it misses.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vartija after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vartija blocks an elbow strike.
Jones digs a right hand into Vartija's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vartija's gas tank.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Vartija leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jones tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jones throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vartija takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Come on Vartija - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jones fails to pull guard.
Jones misses with an elbow strike.
Jones jumps guard but Vartija stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jones just misses with a elbow thrown towards Vartija's brow.
Jones misses with a body punch.
Vartija blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jones is trying to pull guard but Vartija turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jones misses with a body punch.
Jones digs a right hand into Vartija's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vartija's gas tank.
Vartija blocking some punches.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jones throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vartija stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Jones misses with an elbow over the top.
Vartija dodges an elbow strike from Jones.
Vartija avoids a wild elbow strike from Jones.
Jones is trying to pull guard but Vartija turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vartija has Jones pushed against the cage.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vartija prevents a body shot from Jones.
Jones struggles to land a body shot inside as Vartija controls his hands.
A bit of stalling here from Vartija.
Vartija dodges an elbow strike from Jones.
Vartija leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones throws an elbow that misses.
Jones tries to work over Vartija's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vartija prevents a takedown attempt there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vartija.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vartija.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Vartija avoids the elbow strike from Jones, against the cage.
Jones misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jones throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vartija stalling the fight.
Jones tries to work over Vartija's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vartija stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vartija circles away quickly and effectively.
Jones throws a body punch but Vartija moves out of range.
Vartija is looking for the big counter here.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vartija is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jones throws an elbow but it misses.
Vartija leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vartija taking a breather.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants a takedown.
Jones is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Vartija is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones misses with an elbow over the top.
Jones is trying to pull guard but Vartija turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vartija has Jones pressed against the cage.
Vartija avoids a wild elbow strike from Jones.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Vartija blocks the elbow strike.
Vartija stalling against the cage.
Vartija blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vartija just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
Jones is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vartija can do to turn this around?
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vartija after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vartija avoids the elbow strike from Jones, against the cage.
Jones misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Vartija leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Vartija blocks an elbow strike from Jones.
Vartija is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vartija is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vartija - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vartija just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
Vartija receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Portin Vartija.
Jones is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Vartija.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt
and Vartija counters with a one-two to the body.
Jones tries to clinch up
and Vartija counters with a one-two to the body.
Vartija keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jones.

Jones clinches with his opponent.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vartija blocks a body shot from Jones.
Jones looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartija blocks a body shot from Jones.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jones throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jones misses with an elbow strike.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vartija gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones misses with an elbow strike.
Jon Jones has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vartija slows down the pace here.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vartija blocks an elbow strike from Jones.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jones throws an elbow but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jon Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vartija avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vartija throws a counter combo.
Jones throws a series of punches but Vartija moves out of range.
Vartija unleashes a big counter combination but Jones bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Jones swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vartija counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Vartija to acknowledge the strikes.
Vartija avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vartija is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vartija comes in over the top with a devastating right hand! Jones stumbles back against the cage, looking to regain his senses but Vartija is on him like rabid pit bull! Jones slumps to the ground under a storm of punches and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Portin Vartija!
A relieved looking Portin Vartija thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.