PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Sawyer will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Jones
vs
Sawyer

176 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones forces Sawyer back against the cage and clinches.

Jones gets control of Sawyer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jones will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sawyer prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Sawyer trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sawyer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sawyer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sawyer prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones misses with an uppercut.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jones counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sawyer is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sawyer shoots in and drives through. Jones sprawls well.
Sawyer tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sawyer misses with a few strikes there.
Tommy Sawyer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawyer closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jones works over Sawyer with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones trying to control but Sawyer is working from the bottom.
Jones looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jones gets to his feet - Sawyer follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Marcus Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Sawyer.
Sawyer throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jones avoids the head kick by Sawyer.
Jones throws a combination that misses
and Sawyer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sawyer looks to clinch

and Jones holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sawyer changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sawyer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch.
Sawyer managing to block the knees to the body from Jones.
Sawyer can't get the takedown.
Sawyer tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sawyer is trying to drag Jones to the mat but Jones just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sawyer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Sawyer 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jones avoids the head kick by Sawyer.
Jones cracks the inside of Sawyer's front leg.
Sawyer moves out of range as Jones strikes.
Sawyer tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sawyer shoots for a takedown but Jones saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Sawyer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sawyer closes the distance but Jones moves to the side
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Sawyer.
Jones looks to land a left hand but Sawyer moved out of range nicely.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sawyer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sawyer misses with a two punch combination.
Sawyer fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and Sawyer moves out of range easily.
Jones throws a hook but Sawyer blocks it.
Sawyer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sawyer closes the distance and clinches up with Jones, looking for a takedown. Sawyer pushes Jones against the cage but Jones circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sawyer shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sawyer tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones closes the distance and clinches up with Sawyer, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes Sawyer against the cage but Sawyer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sawyer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sawyer's guard.
Jones won't allow Sawyer to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sawyer keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones is thwarting Sawyer's attempts to control the position.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Sawyer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Sawyer manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sawyer is on top in guard.
Sawyer pushing down on Jones's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sawyer trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

Sawyer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jones is trying to stand.
Sawyer moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones can't do much from the bottom here.
Sawyer is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sawyer is trying to get an arm triangle but Jones is defending well.
Jones wants to control but Sawyer postures up.

Sawyer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jones wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Sawyer drags him back down.
Check out the look on Sawyer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Jones's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marcus Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sawyer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Sawyer drags him back down.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sawyer wants to clinch

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

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 prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Sawyer 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.
Marcus Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sawyer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sawyer throws a one two combo.
Sawyer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sawyer somewhat.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
Sawyer throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jones looks to land a body kick but Sawyer moved away.
Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sawyer shoots for a takedown but Jones saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jones misses with a combination
and Sawyer counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jones lands a high kick!
Jones shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sawyer but Sawyer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sawyer dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Sawyer's head and hops out.
Marcus Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Sawyer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sawyer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sawyer is fighting off a takedown attempt but Jones is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sawyer to the mat. Sawyer regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Jones has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sawyer is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Sawyer blocks nicely.
Sawyer wants to get back to his feet but Jones is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jones throws a strike but Sawyer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jones is looking to stand up but Sawyer isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sawyer gets slowly back to his feet.
Sawyer closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sawyer shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Sawyer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sawyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Sawyer in a clinch.
Sawyer wants a takedown but no success here.
Jones is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sawyer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jones.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sawyer as he jumps to the side.
Sawyer tries to clinch

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sawyer's guard.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Sawyer is retaining full guard.
Jones is looking to stand up but Sawyer won't let him.
Jones wants to control from the top but Sawyer keeps moving.
Jones is working Sawyer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jones tries to stand but Sawyer is controlling from the bottom.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sawyer is keeping the position for now.
Tommy Sawyer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sawyer shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marcus Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sawyer wants to clinch.
Sawyer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Jones!