PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Hope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Jonsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hope's entrance music is Linkin Park - CASTLE OF GLASS. A fine choice. Jonsson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mötley Crüe - Kickstart My Heart. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hope
vs
Jonsson

193 cm
20
239 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

206 cm
22
270 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Hope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Magnus Jonsson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hope closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hope tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jonsson's legs.
Jonsson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hope off and has taken his back!
Hope trying to control but not successfully.

Jonsson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hope knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hope for a finish.

Jonsson looking to break Hope's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hope remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Jonsson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hope might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hope preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Jonsson.

Jonsson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hope has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hope is trying to get back to his feet but Jonsson has full control of the position and if anything, Hope has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hope is looking to control Jonsson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hope avoid being mounted?
Hope moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jonsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hope swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jonsson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jonsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jonsson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jonsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jonsson has gone for a leg lock! Hope slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jonsson's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jonsson keeping moving, preventing Hope from controlling successfully.
Jonsson striking off his back but it's not causing Hope any problems.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jonsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jonsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hope with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jonsson working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Magnus Jonsson.

Hope closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jonsson is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hope working away.
Jonsson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jonsson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hope's head.
Hope is trying to get back to full guard.

Jonsson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hope sees it coming and defends easily.
Jonsson wants to free his trapped foot but Hope is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jonsson prevents Hope from improving his position.
Jonsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hope keeps working.

Jonsson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hope has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jonsson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hope is trying to escape the mount.
Jonsson controlling from the full mount.
Jonsson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hope is in a horrible position here. Jonsson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Jonsson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hope has worked his arm free - good work by Hope!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Jonsson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hope closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jonsson did well to prevent Hope getting side control.

Hope is working for a kimura but Jonsson is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jonsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jonsson is pressing down on Hope's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jonsson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jonsson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jonsson keeping moving, preventing Hope from controlling successfully.
Jonsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hope wants to hold on but Jonsson pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope is looking to improve his position but Jonsson isn't that keen on the idea.

Jonsson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hope is surviving well by controlling Jonsson's body position as best he can.
Jonsson wants to control the action but instead Hope gets a body lock and reverses into Jonsson's guard! Nice work!
Hope throws a big right hand that misses.

Hope got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jonsson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hope has managed to get both his arms back between Jonsson's legs - danger averted.
Hope trying to control the position from guard on top but Jonsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jonsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hope working some strikes from top position.
Jonsson is adopting a defensive guard.
Jonsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Magnus Jonsson wasn't active enough on the ground.

Hope darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jonsson is trying to maintain the position but Hope is very close to passing his half guard.
Jonsson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jonsson 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.
Jonsson is adopting a defensive guard.
Hope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jonsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jonsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hope is one step ahead there.
Jonsson keeping full guard, as Hope tries to pass.
Jonsson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Magnus Jonsson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hope looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jonsson tries to kick Hope off but Hope keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jonsson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hope's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hope's back!
Jonsson has the hooks in. Hope is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Jonsson looking for the choke from the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jonsson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hope is covering up but some of the strikes from Jonsson are getting through and doing damage.

Hope preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Jonsson.

Hope preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Jonsson.
Jonsson is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hope trying to control the hands but Jonsson won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Jonsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hope closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jonsson did well to prevent Hope getting side control.
Jonsson is pressing down on Hope's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hope wants to control from the top but Jonsson keeps moving.
Jonsson trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hope is fighting to break Jonsson's control of his arms but Jonsson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jonsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hope is one step ahead there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jonsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magnus Jonsson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hope closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jonsson did well to prevent Hope getting side control.
Jonsson keeping control of the position.
Hope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hope working the head and body with strikes.
Jonsson is looking for a sweep. Hope is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hope looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jonsson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hope works his way into side control.
Jonsson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hope wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jonsson keeps working.
Magnus Jonsson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hope tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hope has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hope wants to control but Jonsson is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jonsson tries to improve position but can't.

Hope thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jonsson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hope pushes Jonsson off looking to stand but Jonsson dives back in and keeps control.

Jonsson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hope is just riding it out for now. Jonsson eventually gives up the hold.

Jonsson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hope has managed to free his arm - good work.
Magnus Jonsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jonsson is working away from the top position though.
Jonsson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Jonsson gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jonsson prevents Hope from improving his position.
Jonsson controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Magnus Jonsson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Hope feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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 Matthew Hope.
I think Jonsson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Jonsson!
Our winner, Magnus Jonsson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.