PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Divine Hand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jones
vs
Hand

190 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Divine Hand!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hand tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jones stuffs the takedown.

Jones fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hand, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Jones can't break the clinch.
Jones tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hand smiles and moves away.

Jones shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hand's guard.
Hand wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones postures up in Hand's guard and throws a big left but Hand blocks it.

Jones gets to his feet. Hand looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jones closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hand is looking for a sweep.
Jones wants to control but Hand is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones slows the pace down.
Hand is trying to get back to his feet.
Jones working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hand prevents Jones from moving into mount.
Hand tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Jones trying to control the position but Hand is working away.

Jones stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hand lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Jones. No joy for Hand on that attempt.
Hand pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jones could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hand tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hand's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hand is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jones is aware though and is defending well.

Hand has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jones can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jones wants to control from the top but Hand keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hand pulls Jones in to control the position.
Jones trying to control but Hand is working from the bottom.

Hand escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jones gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hand wants to stand but Jones is controlling the 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hand is keeping the position for now.
Hand is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.

Hand pushes Jones off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hand goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hand shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hand was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hand looking to finish Jones with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jones!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Divine Hand will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hand tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Hand misses with the combination.
Hand is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jones sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hand shoots in looking for a takedown. Jones tries to sprawl out of it but Hand keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jones manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hand drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hand is aware though and is defending well.

Hand gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
John Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hand shoots in looking for a takedown. Jones tries to sprawl out of it but Hand keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jones manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Divine Hand.
Jones tries for a takedown but Hand circles away easily

and Hand counters with a single leg into guard. Jones didn't expect that.
Hand won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hand tries to stand but Jones is controlling from the bottom.

Hand stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Hand.
Hand gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with an inside leg kick.
Jones thows a body kick. Hand tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hand clinches but Jones breaks the clinch

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hand won't be happy with that.
Hand tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hand is looking to get to half guard.
Hand is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Hand tries to reverse the position but Jones maintains control.
Jones looking to control but Hand is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jones misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hand is looking to get to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Jones there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jones throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hand tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
Hand is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Jones is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hand has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hand gets to his feet - Jones follows without any prompting.
Jones misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Hand finds it's way through Jones's defenses.

Hand looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hand is thwarting Jones's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones wants to improve his position but Hand is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Divine Hand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hand shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jones manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hand wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hand is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hand postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jones wants to stand up but Hand is controlling him.
Hand trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hand stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hand stands up over Jones, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hand looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.

Hand looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jones!
Hand tries to control but Jones wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hand dominating with strikes here.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Hand is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hand avoids the attempt from Jones to control.
Jones is bucking up trying to escape but Hand cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hand looking to finish Jones with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jones!
Hand working the ground and pound effectively.
Hand lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hand looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hand can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Hand cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jones is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hand can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jones is looking to escape.
Jones squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Jones tries to lock up and control but Hand gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hand controlling from mount.
Hand trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hand cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hand trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hand lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hand prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
John Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Divine Hand is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hand looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Divine Hand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hand winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Divine Hand!