PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derek Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waters comes into the arena with Hip Hop blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Waters
vs
Jones

189 cm
31
195 lbs
18 - 10 - 1

193 cm
33
194 lbs
21 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Derek Waters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Jones!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters needs to keep his hands up - Jones had a free shot at his head there.
Jones thuds his shin into the meat of Waters's side.
Jones scores with a jab. Waters acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waters pinned against the cage. Waters gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jones keeps Waters at a distance using the push kick.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Tom Jones has been cut.
Waters misses with a hook. Jones ducked under it nicely.

Jones feints and as Waters raises his hands in defense, Jones changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters is trying to keep Jones in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Waters keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Jones sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waters manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Waters from controlling successfully.

Jones is working an open guard so Waters takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Waters tries to move into range but Jones moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Waters scores with the left hand. Jones knows he should have avoided that one.
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jones misses with a two punch combination.
Waters jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jones jabs Waters right on the nose. Waters blinks but takes it well.
Waters lands with a thumping leg kick.
Derek Waters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters tries a head kick but it misses.
Waters swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
Waters scores with a decent looking hook.
Waters slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters lands a slapping body shot.
Jones tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Waters scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.
Waters tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Waters looking for a sweep. Not yet Waters, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Waters pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.
Waters is trying to keep Jones in close.

We're going to have a standup here because Derek Waters wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jones tries to clinch but Waters moves out of range.
Jones defending well as Waters loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Waters.
Waters feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jones's calf.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Waters back into the cage.
Jones lands a body punch.
A short uppercut from Waters.
Waters throws a punch but it's blocked by Jones.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Waters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters is working Jones over against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Waters lands a hook that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
A short left from Waters.
Waters throws a punch but it's blocked by Jones.
Jones tries to break the clinch but Waters is controlling the position.
Waters is pressed up against the cage. Jones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Waters down to the mat. Waters avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Derek Waters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Jones.
Waters throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Waters takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Waters throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Waters scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Waters pushes him off.
Waters throws a chopping leg kick but Jones manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Waters moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Waters throws a big shot that misses.
A head kick from Waters lands but Jones takes it in his stride.
Derek Waters is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Waters waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jones.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Waters dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Jones's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jones.
Waters throws a lazy right hand but Jones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jones staying out of range there.
We've been told by Waters's head coaches at Disciples Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jones tries to clinch there but Waters circles away.
Waters misses with an uppercut. Jones saw that one coming.
Jones scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A left lands for Waters.
Waters throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Waters throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Waters misses.
Jones scores with a jab to the head.
Jones walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Waters checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Waters just misses with a punch to the body.
Waters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Waters wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Waters slips the punch.
Waters throws a shot from downtown. Jones moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters lands a nice hook to Jones's body. Jones takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jones slips a jab from Waters.
A punch combination from Jones misses.
Jones fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Waters is out of range.
Jones takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jones lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Waters tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones lands a two punch combo.
Waters is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jones.
Jones misses with a low kick as Waters jumps back.
Jones misses with a hook. Waters ducked under it nicely.
Jones throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Good leg kick by Waters there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Waters's corner calls for a 1-2. Waters obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jones tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Waters is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Waters circles away and we're back to standing.
Waters misses with a hook. Jones ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Waters stuffs the takedown.
Derek Waters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Jones.
Jones dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Waters swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Waters takes the fight into the clinch.
Waters lands a shoulder strike.
Waters scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jones is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Waters swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Waters breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones lands a really nice looking cross but Waters seems unphased.
Waters bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jones's head.
Waters tries to work over Jones's front leg with a kick but Jones checks it.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Waters swivels and escapes.
Waters lunges at Jones with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jones's hand.
Waters cracks the inside of Jones's front leg.
Waters throws a looping overhand right but Jones ducks down to avoid it.
Jones checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Waters.
Jones tries to score with a low kick but Waters moves his leg out of the way.
Waters misses with a two punch combination.
Waters takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Waters forces Jones back against the cage and clinches.
Jones gets through Waters's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Jones.
Jones is looking to take this one to the mat.
Waters throws a head punch that misses.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jones lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones blocking some punches.
Jones lands with a short shot to the head.

Waters manages to break the clinch.
Jones throws a hook but Waters avoids it easily.
Jones lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Waters.
Waters throws a hook but Jones avoids it easily.
Jones chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Waters can pounce on him.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Waters lands with a left to the head.
Waters lands a right hand.
A shot in the inside from Jones.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Jones blocking some punches.
Waters lands a right hand.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jones just misses with a elbow thrown towards Waters's brow.
Jones lands with a right to the head.
Jones can't find room to land a body shot as Waters controls the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A hook to the body from Waters.
Jones tries to throw a body punch but Waters avoids it by throwing Jones back against the cage.
Waters misses with a body punch.
Waters misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Derek Waters will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.
Jones has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Jones misses with an uppercut.
Jones thuds his shin into the meat of Waters's side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Waters. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.
Waters lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jones backs up against the cage.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones digs a good hook to Waters's body.
Waters has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Jones finds it's way round the side to connect with Waters's head.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waters.
A nice leg kick lands there from Waters.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Waters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Waters has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.
Waters tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Waters back against the cage.
Waters doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Waters blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Waters.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
Jones lands a body shot in the clinch.
Waters fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tom Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Waters lands with a right to the head.
Waters stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jones can't find room to land a body shot as Waters controls the action.

Waters escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jones closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Waters's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Waters seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Waters looking for a sweep. Not yet Waters, not yet.
Tom Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Derek Waters.
Waters misses with a straight left.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Jones stalks Waters and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Waters's face. Waters staggers backwards, shaken.
Waters throws a lazy right hand but Jones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jones checks the leg kick nicely there.
A leg kick checked by Jones.
Waters misses with an uppercut.
Jones blocks a jab.
Jones looks to land a right hand but Waters moved out of range.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Waters avoids a kick to the body.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Waters throws out a leg kick but Jones moves out of range and Waters only half commits.
Waters takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jones throws a body kick that misses.
Jones swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Waters lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Waters lands the left hand.
Jones's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Waters sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Derek Waters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Jones.
Waters listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Waters throws a hook but Jones blocks it.
Waters throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jones blocks the body kick.

Waters closes the distance and pushes Jones back into the cage.
Waters lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Waters breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones defending well as Waters loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Waters has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jones.
Waters cracks Jones with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice defenses there by Jones.
Jones throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Waters blocks a jab.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Waters.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
Derek Waters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jones misses with some punches.
Waters blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Waters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.

Waters breaks from the clinch.

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 Derek Waters.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Waters, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Waters!
Our winner, Derek Waters, 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.