PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Auditore (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
Auditore

182 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James 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, Ezio Auditore!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Auditore, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Auditore 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.

Auditore instigates a clinch.
Auditore jumps guard but Jones stands there with Auditore around his waist. Auditore gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jones leaning against his opponent.

Jones jumps guard and drags Auditore to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Jones wriggles free and stands up.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.

Jones jumps guard and drags Auditore to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Auditore distracts Jones with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones has his foot on Auditore's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Auditore works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Auditore from controlling successfully.
Auditore would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looking for a sweep. Not yet Jones, not yet.
Auditore throws and elbow that misses. Jones uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Auditore's guard. Nice move by Jones!
Auditore looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Jones trying to control but Auditore is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Auditore is pulling down on Jones's head to control his posture.

Auditore is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Auditore can do anything to dispel that myth.
Auditore 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.
Auditore is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Auditore pushes him off.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Auditore sprawls well. Auditore wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

Jones darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Auditore avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jones.
Auditore wants to control but Jones is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents Auditore from improving his position.
Auditore tries to kick Jones off but Jones keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Auditore looks gassed!
Auditore keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jones seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jones looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jones wants to control but Auditore is keeping him busy.
Auditore wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick from Jones lands but Auditore takes it in his stride.
Auditore tries to clinch but Jones moves away

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Auditore won't be happy with that.
Auditore is looking for a sweep.
Auditore manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jones is trying to stand back up but Auditore is controlling him
Jones gets back to full guard.
Jones looking for a sweep. Not yet Jones, not yet.

Jones escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Auditore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Auditore throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Auditore shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Auditore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Auditore circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Auditore pushes him off.
Jones is looking to clinch.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Auditore is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jones scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Auditore?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Auditore is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.

Jones swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Auditore is now in Jones's guard. A big mistake from Jones there, giving up the dominant position!
Auditore slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Auditore from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Auditore is retaining full guard.
Jones with a nice head shot there.
Auditore working a defensive guard here.
Auditore keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

Jones is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Auditore has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Jones postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Auditore is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jones, into his guard.
Auditore content to stall in guard here.
Auditore won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Jones dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jones takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Auditore is defended easily by Jones.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Auditore. That did some damage!
Jones with a poor takedown

and Auditore counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Auditore thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Auditore tries to take Jones's back but instead Jones uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Auditore is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Auditore is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jones looks like he's trying to stand up.
Auditore is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Jones regains full guard. Nicely done.

Jones had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Auditore defends it easily.
Auditore 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 manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Auditore manages to get himself to full guard.
James Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to sit in guard and control but Auditore gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jones trying to control the position.
Jones lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Auditore!
Auditore prevents any damage by holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Jones is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Auditore has managed to escape the submission attempt.
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 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.
Jones punching from mount but Auditore doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Jones postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Auditore looks a forlorn figure.
Jones working Auditore over with strikes here.
Auditore is looking to get to half guard.
Jones lands a big shot there that rocks Auditore but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Jones.
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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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