PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Bacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Jaa's choice of entrance music: Search and Destroy. Tony Jaa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bacon
vs
Jaa

172 cm
19
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

174 cm
21
152 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Rock Hard Nutrition
Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Bacon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jaa.
Jaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Bacon fails to land with a series of punches.
Bacon looks to land a combination but Jaa avoids it well.
Bacon throws a right hand that Jaa ducks under and follows up with a left that Jaa also avoids with ease.

Bacon has managed to clinch.
Bacon can't break the clinch.

Jaa has clasped his hands together around Bacon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bacon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bacon tries to get out of the position.
Jaa throws an elbow but Bacon slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jaa with the ground and pound but Bacon regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Bacon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jaa.
Jaa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bacon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jaa.
Bacon is trying to stand back up but Jaa is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa is looking to stall here but Bacon recovers full guard.
Bacon keeping moving, preventing Jaa from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bacon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jaa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bacon will feel that in the morning.
Bacon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bacon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bacon throws a right hand that Jaa ducks under and follows up with a left that Jaa also avoids with ease.
Bacon tries to clinch up.
Jaa thows a body kick. Bacon tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Bacon is breathing heavily.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bacon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaa tries for a takedown but Bacon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Jaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bacon, pushing him back against the cage.
Jaa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bacon's efforts to push away.
Jaa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bacon's face.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Jaa scores with a knee to the head.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Jaa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Jaa prevents Bacon from breaking the clinch.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bacon is defending well for now.
Bacon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa misses with a knee strike.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bacon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bacon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jaa wants a takedown.
Jaa stalling against the cage.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Bacon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jaa lands with a nice body kick.
Jaa blocks a low kick nicely.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Bacon circles away.
Bacon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jaa leaves Bacon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bacon is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bacon just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jaa's brow.
Jaa prevents Bacon from breaking the clinch.
Jaa looking to slow down the pace here.
Jaa has Bacon pressed against the cage, preventing Bacon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bacon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Jaa has Bacon pressed against the cage.
Bacon is trying to break free.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but Bacon blocks it.

Bacon breaks the clinch.
Bacon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Bacon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jaa's half guard.
Jaa is looking for a sweep. Bacon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jaa trying to control here.
Jaa moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bacon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bacon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Chris Bacon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, jab by Bacon - just one landing.
Jaa misses with a takedown
and Bacon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bacon misses with a double jab.
Bacon closes the distance but Jaa moves to the side
and Jaa counters with a low kick, right behind Bacon 's knee.
Jaa dodges the punch combination from Bacon.
Bacon misses the jab.
Jaa tries to clinch up but Bacon circles away and keeps his distance.

Bacon forces Jaa back against the cage and clinches.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Bacon.
Bacon is looking to break free of the clinch but Jaa has double underhooks.
Bacon can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa landing knees to the head.
Jaa working Bacon over with knees to the body.

Jaa jumps guard and drags Bacon to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Jaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Jaa, not yet.
Jaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bacon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Jaa trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jaa.
Bacon misses with a double jab
and Jaa counters with a leg kick.
Bacon misses with a combination
and Jaa counters with a big head kick but Bacon shrugs it off.
Bacon shoots and misses
and Jaa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bacon's knee momentarily.
Jaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bacon takes a step back to recover.
Jaa scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bacon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jaa.
Jaa throws a nice head kick!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jaa.
Jaa delivers a nice body kick.
Bacon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa slips a jab and a cross from Bacon.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Jaa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jaa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bacon.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Bacon avoids the damage to the body.
Jaa landing knees to the body.
Jaa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Jaa.
Bacon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jaa has him pressed against the cage.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jaa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Bacon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bacon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jaa.
A combination from Bacon does no damage.
Bacon throws a nice looking combination but Jaa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bacon misses with a double jab

and Jaa moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bacon tries for a takedown but Jaa manages to get underhooks.
Jaa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bacon in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jaa taking a breather.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the head but Bacon blocks with his arms.
Jaa goes for a takedown attempt but Bacon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bacon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jaa is looking to slow Bacon down with leg kicks.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Jaa.
Jaa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bacon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jaa throws a nice head kick!
Bacon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bacon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jaa counters with a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Jaa.
Jaa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bacon pinned against the cage. Bacon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bacon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bacon steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Jaa. That one must have hurt.
Bacon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jaa counters with a good, hard body kick but Bacon shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa is looking to clinch but Bacon is avoiding it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jaa.
Tony Jaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crunch! Jaa slams his shin into Bacon's torso.
Jaa lands with a slapping head kick.
Jaa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jaa throws a lazy right hand but Bacon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Bacon pushes him off.
Bacon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jaa cracks Bacon with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bacon will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Bacon misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Jaa counters with a slapping leg kick.

Jaa closes the distance and clinches.
Jaa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bacon's efforts to push away.
Bacon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bacon is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Bacon avoids the damage to the body.
Bacon managing to block the knees to the body from Jaa.
Bacon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bacon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jaa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bacon's efforts to push away.

Bacon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bacon takes a step back to recover.
Jaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bacon pinned against the cage. Bacon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jaa ducks under a wild hook from Bacon.
Jaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jaa tries to land a front kick but Bacon steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jaa moves out of range of the strikes.
A low kick from Bacon misses
and Jaa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bacon's knee momentarily.
Jaa lands a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Jaa. Bacon shrugs it off though.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Bacon pushes him off.
Bacon circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bacon clinches up with Jaa and pushes him back against the cage.
Bacon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Bacon avoids the damage to the body.
Bacon scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jaa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bacon's efforts to push away.
Jaa is trying to drag Bacon to the mat but Bacon just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Bacon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Jaa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jaa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Jaa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bacon uses it to pass to side control.

Bacon stands up and beckons Jaa to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bacon misses with a double jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bacon.
Jaa throws a quick inside leg kick.

Jaa rushes Bacon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bacon is defending well for now.
Jaa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bacon in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jaa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bacon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on Bacon's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jaa is trying to maintain a safe position but Bacon gets an underhook and turns Jaa into the cage.
Bacon tries to circle away but Jaa has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bacon is working for takedown but Jaa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jaa working Bacon over with knees to the body.
Jaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bacon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bacon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bacon misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bacon looks to land a combination but Jaa avoids it well.
Jaa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bacon throws a series of punches but Jaa moves out of range.
Jaa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bacon throws a nice looking combination but Jaa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bacon misses with a combination
and Jaa makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bacon really felt that one!
A chopping leg kick lands by Jaa.
Bacon blocks a head kick by Jaa.
Jaa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bacon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bacon scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bacon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jaa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bacon.
Bacon circles away from the clinch attempt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bacon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jaa counters with a head kick. That will keep Bacon thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Jaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bacon throws a combination that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jaa misses with an uppercut.
Jaa wants to clinch.
Bacon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Jaa clinches up with Bacon and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bacon tries to break the clinch but Jaa is controlling the position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bacon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Bacon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bacon misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bacon takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Jaa tries to clinch but Bacon is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jaa closes the distance and clinches.
Bacon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bacon avoiding damage as Jaa throws knees to the body.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but Bacon blocks it.
Jaa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bacon has had enough of the clinch but Jaa keeps him there for the moment.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bacon is defending well for now.
Jaa keeps control of Bacon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jaa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bacon's efforts to push away.
Bacon can't break the clinch.
Bacon can't break the clinch.
Jaa looking to slow down the pace here.
Bacon wants to break free but Jaa has control.

Jaa is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bacon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jaa to the mat. Jaa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Jaa controls Bacon momentarily but Bacon frees himself.
Jaa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jaa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jaa has control of Bacon's left arm, preventing Bacon from doing any damage.
Jaa looking to control.

Jaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bacon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bacon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bacon preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Jaa tries to strike from the bottom.

Jaa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bacon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jaa, up you get!

Bacon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Jaa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jaa tries to bench press Bacon off him but Bacon keeps the position.

Bacon decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Bacon had his way with Tony Jaa in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jaa slips a jab and a cross from Bacon.
Bacon falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jaa counters with a big head kick but Bacon shrugs it off.
Bacon takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Jaa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bacon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jaa.
Jaa lands with a kick to the temple. Bacon shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bacon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses.

Jaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jaa throws a knee to the head but misses.

Bacon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jaa is looking to slow Bacon down with leg kicks.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Jaa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bacon misses with a leg kick
and Jaa counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Bacon does no damage.
Bacon fails to land with a series of punches.
Bacon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bacon tries to clinch up but Jaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Bacon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Bacon takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nice body kick there by Jaa.
A head kick from Jaa lands but Bacon takes it in his stride.
Bacon throws a leg kick
and Jaa counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jaa.
Jaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Jaa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bacon's calf.
Bacon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bacon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jaa forces Bacon back against the cage and clinches.
Knees to the body from Jaa.

Bacon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Bacon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jaa on the ground.

Jaa actively working from the bottom here.
Jaa wants to get back to full guard but Bacon has mounted him!
Jaa is working to get back to half guard.
Chris Bacon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa wants to hold on but Bacon pushes him away.
Jaa can't escape the position.
Jaa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jaa postures up in Bacon's guard and throws a big left but Bacon blocks it.
Jaa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jaa looking to sit in guard and control but Bacon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jaa pulls Bacon in to control the position.

That's four 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.
Bacon trying to control but Jaa is working from the bottom.
Jaa working a defensive guard here.
Tony Jaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jaa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bacon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jaa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 46:49
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 46:49
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Jaa! Tony Jaa retains his featherweight title!