PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 4127 p4p, 4098 weight class) and Sok Sichan (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.

Jones
vs
Sichan

180 cm
22
155
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Jones!
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, Sok Sichan!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Sichan pushes him off.

Sichan moves into the clinch successfully.

Jones has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sichan is trying to keep an underhook but Jones manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Jones is thwarting Sichan's attempts to control the position.
Jones is looking to advance position but Sichan won't allow it.
Sichan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jones is taking a breather. Sichan 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.
Sichan trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sichan tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Jones is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Jones looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sichan is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sichan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jones's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jones's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sichan is persistently looking for the submission but Jones is defending it well.
Jones tries to escape the position.
Jones turns into Sichan and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Sichan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sichan manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Sichan's guard.
Jones wants to stand but Sichan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sichan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jones is staying active underneath Sichan, who seems content to just control the action from this 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.
Jones slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sichan stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sichan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jones.
Jones is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sichan to keep the fight standing.

Sichan breaks the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sichan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jon Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones wants to clinch.
Jones tries to clinch but Sichan is having none of it.
Sichan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jones defends well and Sichan ends up having to push Jones into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jones pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Jones backs off Sichan throws a huge counter combo but Jones manages to avoid it all.
Jones throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sichan keeps the fight on the outside.
Sichan darts in looking for a takedown but Jones gets double underhooks and turns Sichan into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sichan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sichan off to one side.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sok Sichan.
Sichan shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jones 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.
Jones misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sichan swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Sichan, which made it look bad.
Jones throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sichan darts in looking for a takedown but Jones gets double underhooks and turns Sichan into the cage.
Sichan slips under a jab from Jones.

Sichan closes the distance and clinches.

Sichan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jon Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sichan!
Sichan slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sichan wants to counter the offense by Jones and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sichan slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sichan! But no joy.
Jones avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sichan has managed to clinch.
Sichan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sichan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Jones has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sichan clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Sichan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichan trying to control the action but Jones just sinks the hooks in.
Jones is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Sichan. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Jones connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sichan to escape the position.
Sichan wants to control his opponent's hands but Jones gets his hands free.
Even with his hooks in, Jones manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sichan trying to control the position but Jones manages to sink in the hooks.
Jones is riding his opponent, not letting Sichan buck him off.

Jones working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Jones is hanging on to Sichan's back as he tries to escape.
Jon Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones is trying to stick to Sichan's back but Sichan is turning into Jones. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Jones's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sichan.

Sichan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jones has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sichan has managed to get both his arms back between Jones's legs - danger averted.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sichan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sichan sprawls well. Sichan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

Sichan moves into the clinch.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sichan after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sichan scores with a nice hook to the head.

Sichan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sichan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sichan keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Sichan is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Sichan is working from the bottom.

Sichan wriggles free and stands up.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jones is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sichan.

Sichan forces Jones back against the cage and clinches.

Jones pulls Sichan into guard.
Sichan trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sichan stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Sichan moves into range and clinches up with Jones.

Jones ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jones no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sichan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sichan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sichan tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones working a defensive guard but Sichan passes into half guard.
Sichan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jones's head.
Jones trying to hold on to Sichan's head to control him but Sichan postures up.
Sichan lands strikes from half guard.

Sichan stands up out of the half guard.
Sichan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Jones was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sichan.

Sichan closes the distance and clinches.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Sichan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jon Jones is winning the standup battle so far.
Sichan shoots in and drives through. Jones sprawls well.
Jon Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sok Sichan.
Sichan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sichan feints and then cracks Jones's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jones down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sichan gets a clinch.
Jones being controlled against the cage.
Jones blocks an elbow strike.
Sichan holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sichan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sichan blocks a body shot from Jones.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Sichan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sok Sichan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones takes a shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sok Sichan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jon Jones!
Jon 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.