PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arapeta Ma Aka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arapeta Ma Aka has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ma Aka
vs
Jones

179 cm
26
161 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

168 cm
22
156 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arapeta Ma Aka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Jones!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to score with a low kick but Ma Aka moves his leg out of the way.
Jones looks to throw a body kick

and Ma Aka counters with a shoot takedown. Jones fights it but they end up in guard.
Jones keeping full guard, as Ma Aka tries to pass.
Ma Aka passes Jones's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jones manages to get to full guard.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Ma Aka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ma Aka is one step ahead there.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ma Aka controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ma Aka seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jones for as long as he can get away with.
Jones is trying to keep Ma Aka in close.
Ma Aka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ma Aka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
Ma Aka prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jones has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Jones throws a leg kick but Ma Aka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ma Aka tries to counter with a takedown but Jones is quick to defend against it.
Ma Aka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Ma Aka wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ma Aka swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Ma Aka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ma Aka changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jones throws a leg kick but Ma Aka sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Jones rushes Ma Aka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ma Aka pulls guard effortlessly.
Ma Aka wants to sweep but no luck.
Ma Aka has momentary wrist control but Jones slips an elbow through the middle.
Ma Aka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ma Aka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones trying to control but Ma Aka is working from the bottom.
Jones sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ma Aka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones trying to control but Ma Aka is working from the bottom.
Ma Aka being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ma Aka is looking for a triangle but Jones pushes his legs off easily.
Jones is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arapeta Ma Aka dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ma Aka slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ma Aka.
That kick from Jones tenderised Ma Aka's leg. Ma Aka is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jones lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ma Aka tries to break free but Jones pushes him back against the cage.
Ma Aka tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ma Aka is defending well for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Jones creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jones throws a punch but it's blocked by Ma Aka.

Ma Aka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ma Aka throws a jab but it's blocked by Jones.
Jones is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ma Aka.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Ma Aka tries to counter with a takedown but Jones is quick to defend against it.
Ma Aka swings widly with a right hand

so Jones counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Ma Aka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Ma Aka can't keep his opponent in guard - Jones advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones passes to side control.
Ma Aka looks to move to half guard but instead Jones has passed into mount! Damn!
Jones looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ma Aka is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ma Aka is looking to escape.
Ma Aka is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones content just to control the position here.
Ma Aka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jones wants to control the pace but Ma Aka is squirming around nicely.
Ma Aka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jones lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ma Aka hang on?
Ma Aka is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Ma Aka is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones content just to control the position here.
Jones tries to control but Ma Aka wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ma Aka goes for a double leg but Jones avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jones continues to drive forward.
Ma Aka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ma Aka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Jones rushes Ma Aka and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ma Aka.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ma Aka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ma Aka is defending well for now.
Jones with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ma Aka has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Jones is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arapeta Ma Aka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ma Aka is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ma Aka is trying to force a seperation but Jones has the dominant position.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ma Aka tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Jones keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ma Aka's efforts to push away.
Ma Aka trying to control the position but instead, Jones has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ma Aka into the cage.
Ma Aka tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ma Aka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ma Aka has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Ma Aka tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jones throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ma Akas head.
Jones pushes Ma Aka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ma Aka stalls.
Jones lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ma Aka is looking to control Jones's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ma Aka has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Jones - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones stalling.
Jones throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Jones lands with a right to the head.

Ma Aka is rocked!
Ma Aka is looking to break free of the clinch but Jones has double underhooks.
Oh Ma Aka is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jones working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Ma Aka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jones lands with a left to the head.
Jones lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ma Aka.
Jones creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Ma Aka with a big uppercut! Ma Aka tries to clinch up but Jones pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Ma Aka to the mat! Ma Aka covers up and Jones unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Craig Jones!
A victorious Craig Jones thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Arapeta Ma Aka spoke after the fight, saying 'I will come back stronger!'.