PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones's entrance music is what's new pussycat. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jones
vs
Washburn

185 cm
29
183 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

180 cm
30
177 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zoe Washburn!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Washburn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Jones drives through and clinches with Washburn against the cage.
Jones is trying to stall.
Washburn jumps guard but Jones stands there with Washburn around his waist. Washburn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Jones putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Washburn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Washburn looking for a takedown.
Jones lands a hook that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
A shot in the inside from Jones.

Washburn gets control of Jones's arms and successfully pulls guard. Washburn will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jones is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Washburn is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Washburn lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
Washburn misses with a head shot.
Washburn dominating with strikes here.
Jones is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Franklin D. Bluth Memorial Supergym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Jones because Washburn loaded up on that one.
Jones is squirming around, avoiding Washburn's attempts to control the action.
Washburn misses with a head shot.
Jones wants to hold on but Washburn pushes him away.
Washburn is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Jones can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Washburn prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
Jones sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Washburn throws a strike but Jones avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones wants to sweep here but Washburn controlling him for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones working a defensive guard but Washburn passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburn passes the guard and advances to mount!
Jones is in all sorts of trouble here.
Washburn thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Washburn is landing with some decent strikes but Jones is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is looking to get to half guard.
Jones bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Washburn working a defensive guard here.
Washburn is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Washburn told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones working some strikes from top position.
Washburn lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
Washburn avoids the attempt from Jones to control.
Washburn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Washburn can't control as he wanted to and Jones manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Washburn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Washburn is trying to control. Jones wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Washburn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Washburn works over Jones with some ground and pound from guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Washburn wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Washburn being controlled here momentarily.
Jones 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jones has control of Washburn's left arm, preventing Washburn from doing any damage.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Washburn 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.

Jones clinches up with Washburn and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones working aggressively here.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jones as Washburn tries to tie him up.
Washburn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Washburn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jones gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Washburn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tom Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.

Washburn decides to pull guard.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Washburn is keeping the position.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jones postures up in Washburn's guard and throws a big left but Washburn blocks it.
Jones preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones works over Washburn with some ground and pound from guard.
Jones with a nice head shot there.
Jones lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Washburn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jones is aware though and is defending well.
Zoe Washburn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones trying to control but Washburn is working from the bottom.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Washburn looking for a sweep. Not yet Washburn, not yet.

Jones got a little sloppy there for a moment and Washburn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jones has managed to get both his arms back between Washburn's legs - danger averted.

Washburn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Washburn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones distracts Washburn with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jones passes into half guard.
Jones missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Washburn wants to control but Jones is keeping busy.
Washburn works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Washburn has wrist control.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Washburn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jones working the ground and pound from side control.
Washburn takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Washburn is rocked!
Jones lands a strong strike to the head of Washburn. That's dazed him! Jones looking to finish here. Washburn is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Jones lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Jones!
Tom Jones decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.