PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gary Player (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devil Jho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Player comes to the cage accompanied by Kevin Gates feat. August Alsina - I Don't Get Tired. This should be fireworks!

Player
vs
Jho

178 cm
40
173 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

180 cm
40
175 lbs
29 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gary Player!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Devil Jho!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Player looks to land a left hand but Jho moved out of range nicely.
Jho is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jho throws the left hand but Player avoids the punch easily.
Jho lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jho walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Player scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Player throws a jab but it's blocked by Jho.
A clash of legs there as Player blocks the low kick.
Devil Jho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jho throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Player uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jho.
Jho jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jho stuffs the takedown.
Jho tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jho defending well as Player loads up on a big left hand.
Player goes for a double leg but Jho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jho continues to drive forward.
Jho swings for the body but Player moves out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Player finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Jho avoids the head kick by Player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jho's jab looks to have found its range, popping Player under the eye.
Jab, jab by Jho - just one landing.
Player uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jho.
A jab from Jho misses.
Player is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Jho.
Jho throws a solid leg kick but Player takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jho.
The fighters circling - Player throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Player feints and then cracks Jho's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jho down.
That kick from Player tenderised Jho's leg. Jho is trying to keep his angry face on.
Player blocks a low kick nicely.
Jho throws out a leg kick but Player moves out of range and Jho only half commits.
Jho throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jho throws a body shot but no joy.
No joy there for Jho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Player seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Jho waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Player.
Player avoids the body shot from Jho.
Jho throws a sloppy body shot

and Player counters by clinching up.
Player wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Player. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jho fails to pull guard.
Jho fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jho fails to pull guard.
Jho stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Player working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Player working aggressively here.
Jho fails to pull guard.
Jho fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Player fails to land.

Player's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A clash of legs there as Jho blocks the low kick.
Player thuds his shin into the meat of Jho's side.
Player loads up on a big right hand but Jho slips the punch.
Player changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Player fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Player scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho throws a left and a right that both miss

and Player moves into the clinch.
Player makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
I was talking to Player's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jho fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jho lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Player creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Player.
Jho drops down looking for an ankle pick but Player pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jho throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jho throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Player is looking to counter the offense by Jho and move into the clinch.
Player misses with a head kick.
Player takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Horrible takedown attempt by Player or perhaps it was just good defense by Jho, which made it look bad.
Player dives in for a single leg takedown but Jho sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Player misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Player lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jho throws a good cross that connects.
Player pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Player scores with a nice head shot.
A lazy left from Player finds it's target.
Jho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Player.
As Jho tries to get set, Player tries to push him back and clinch up but Jho manages to avoid the attempt.
Jho shoots for a double leg takedown but Player sprawls well. He's pushed Jho's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jho misses with a body shot.
No joy there for Jho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jho steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Player. That one must have hurt.
Player avoids a punch combination nicely.
Player lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jho ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jho scores with a jab. Player acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gary Player will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Player uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jho has time to react.
A punch combination from Jho misses.
Player seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Player shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jho sprawls well. Jho wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Player gets slowly back to his feet.
Jho throws out a loose jab but Player uses good head movement to avoid it.
Player dodges the punch combination from Jho.
Jho lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Player at a distance.
Player doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Player throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jho takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Player chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Crunch! Jho slams his shin into Player's torso.
Jho connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Player lands with a straight right. Jho didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Player throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Devil Jho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Player on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jho misses with a hook.
Player defending well as Jho loads up on a big left hand.
Player fails with the takedown.
Jho with the counter takedown but Player avoids it easily.
Player uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jho.
Jho throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Player steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Jho. That one must have hurt.
Player scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jho moves away from the strike by Player.
Player looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Player shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jho manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Player scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jho looking for a sweep. Not yet Jho, not yet.
Player working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jho's head.

Jho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Jho is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Player is aware though and is defending well.

Jho throws his legs up looking for a submission but Player uses it to pass to side control.
Player content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Player scores with a couple of short elbows.
Jho is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Player's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Jho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Player pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jho actively working from the bottom here.
Jho wants to improve his position but Player is controlling well.
Player scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jho tries to roll over but Player keeps him under control.
Player is nestled in close to Jho, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Player is stalling here. Jho is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Player seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Jho has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Player is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jho taking a break here but Player is having none of it and regains half guard.

Jho looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Player tries to roll over but Jho keeps him under control.
Player moves into full guard.
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 Gary Player will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jho keeps Player at a distance using the push kick.
Jho feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Players jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Player closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jho quickly recovers to half guard.
Jho wants to improve his position but Player is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Player is trying to control. Jho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Jho actively working from the bottom here.
Jho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Player looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jho with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Player is looking to take a break and control but Jho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Player is nestled in close to Jho, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jho moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Player landing some decent shots from guard.

Jho escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Player gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Player working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jho's head.
Player working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jho's head.
Player lands a couple of digs.
Player stands up over Jho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jho trying to keep a closed guard but Player is proving a slippery customer.

Jho working for a triangle but Player defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Player wants to control from the top but Jho keeps moving.
Player works over Jho with some ground and pound from guard.
Player stays in close to Jho's body and controls the position.
Player scoring with some ground and pound.
Player controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Player's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player wants to pass the guard but Jho is keeping the position.
Player pushes down on Jho's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jho keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Player lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Player lands strikes from half guard.
Player seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jho does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Player there.
Player wants to control but Jho is keeping him busy.
Jho is looking to improve his position.
Player working Jho over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jho looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Player.
Player seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Player is looking to take a break and control but Jho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jho tries to get to full guard but Player has control of the leg.
Player controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jho is pressing down on Player's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Player showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Player, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Player!
After winning the bout, Gary Player thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.