PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Minato Namakazi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Namakazi
vs
Jones

178 cm
20
172 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Minato Namakazi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shane Jones!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Namakazi.
A good leg kick by Namakazi.

Namakazi pushes Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Namakazi 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.
Jones avoids the head kick by Namakazi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jones.

Jones fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Namakazi sprawls well initially but Jones persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Namakazi trying to control but Jones postures up.
Jones is trying to control. Namakazi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Jones decides to stand up.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Namakazi sprawls well. Namakazi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Namakazi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to clinch up

and Namakazi moves into the clinch.
Jones lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Namakazi or not.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones throws the kick towards the body but Namakazi avoids it.
Jones pivots, looking for a leg kick but Namakazi is out of range and Jones settles back down.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Namakazi wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Jones stuffs the takedown attempt from Namakazi. Namakazi gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Namakazi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two 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 looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Minato Namakazi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Jones.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Namakazi.
Shane Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Namakazi with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Namakazi!
Namakazi tries to hold on but Jones pushes him away.
Namakazi is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Namakazi wants to control but Jones is having none of it.
Namakazi working to try and regain half guard.
Namakazi tries to hold on but Jones postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namakazi working to try and regain half guard.
Namakazi wants to control but Jones is having none of it.
Namakazi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Namakazi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Namakazi throws a big right hand that misses.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jones looks gassed!
Namakazi is pushing down on Jones's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jones is fighting to maintain full guard but Namakazi has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Namakazi stands up and beckons Jones to join him on the feet.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Namakazi moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones keeps control of Namakazi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Namakazi jumps guard.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Namakazi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Namakazi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shane Jones will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Namakazi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jones counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Namakazi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Namakazi shoots and misses

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jones.
Jones keeps control of Namakazi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones is trying to maintain a safe position but Namakazi gets an underhook and turns Jones into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Namakazi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minato Namakazi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Namakazi is trying to stall.

Namakazi drags the fight down to the ground.
Jones wants to control from the top but Namakazi keeps moving.

Namakazi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Namakazi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Namakazi fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Namakazi tries a head kick but it misses.
Namakazi tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Namakazi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Namakazi.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Namakazi blocks a head kick by Jones.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Namakazi pinned against the cage. Namakazi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Namakazi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Namakazi's guard.
Namakazi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Namakazi trying to strike off his back.
Namakazi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Namakazi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones wants to control from the top but Namakazi keeps moving.
Namakazi is pulling down on Jones's head. It's preventing any offense from Jones, at least for the moment.
Namakazi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namakazi is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Namakazi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Namakazi is trying to keep Jones in close.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Namakazi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jones circles away.
Namakazi tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Namakazi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and Namakazi moves out of range easily.
Namakazi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Namakazi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Namakazi wants it to stay on the feet.
Namakazi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jones.
Namakazi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Namakazi somewhat.
Namakazi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Namakazi gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shane Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Namakazi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Namakazi won't be happy with that.
Namakazi regains half guard.
Namakazi pushes Jones off looking to stand but Jones dives back in and keeps control.
Jones thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Namakazi's head.

Jones is looking for a kimura but Namakazi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jones to get the leverage.

Namakazi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is keen to just control but Namakazi is a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Namakazi trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Jones as Namakazi shoots in.
Jones tries for a takedown but Namakazi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Namakazi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Namakazi!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minato Namakazi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Namakazi wants to control but Jones is having none of it.
Namakazi regains half guard.
Namakazi trying to control but Jones postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Namakazi is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Namakazi wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Namakazi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Namakazi blocks nicely.

Namakazi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jones off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Namakazi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Namakazi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Namakazi lands with a kick to the temple. Jones shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Namakazi lands a slapping body shot.
Namakazi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Namakazi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Namakazi looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.
Namakazi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Namakazi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Namakazi tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Namakazi to the ground. Namakazi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Namakazi doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
Namakazi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Namakazi tries a head kick but it misses.
Minato Namakazi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shane Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Namakazi throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jones 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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