PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tsulmani Diakite (ranked 4528 p4p, 522 weight class) and Shawn Jones (ranked 4961 p4p, 550 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Diakite
vs
Jones

176 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
185 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Amped Performance

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tsulmani Diakite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shawn Jones!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Diakite lands but Jones takes it in his stride.
Diakite could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diakite looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.
Diakite tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Diakite.
And Jones tries to counter it with a takedown but Diakite pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Diakite looks to land a body kick but Jones moved away.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Diakite shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jones shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diakite but Diakite pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tsulmani Diakite has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diakite is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Diakite circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diakite.
Diakite circles away from the clinch attempt
and Diakite counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries for a takedown but Diakite sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jones tries to move into range but Diakite moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diakite jabs at Jones's body.
Jones checks a leg kick.
Jones looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Diakite.

Diakite pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Jones.
Diakite keeps the fight on the outside.
Tsulmani Diakite is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diakite tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Diakite.
Jones gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Diakite tried to counter with a leg kick but Jones avoided it.
Diakite throws a leg kick that is checked

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Diakite knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jones thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jones trying to control but Diakite is working from the bottom.

Jones stands up and waves to Diakite to follow him.
Diakite lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diakite looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones trying to stall but Diakite improves his position.
Jones prevents a body shot from Diakite.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Diakite breaks from the clinch.
Diakite stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diakite wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones looks to land a combination but Diakite avoids it well.
Jones on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Shawn Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diakite.
Jones tries to counter with a clinch but Diakite shakes him off and moves away.
Diakite throws a leg kick

and Jones counters with a single leg into guard. Diakite didn't expect that.
Diakite trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.

Jones gets to his feet - Diakite follows without any prompting.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diakite. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jones wants to clinch.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Diakite sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jones forces Diakite back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsulmani Diakite dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diakite throws a chopping leg kick but Jones manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Shawn Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diakite counters with a right hand to the body.
Diakite connects with an inside leg kick.
Diakite scoring well with a low kick there.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Diakite sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jones throws a right and a left that Diakite avoids nicely.
Diakite 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.
Diakite throws a leg kick

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Diakite!

Diakite bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Diakite is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jones drives through and clinches with Diakite against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jones backwards.

Diakite breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jones changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diakite looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Diakite on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diakite tries to get out of the position.
Diakite pushes Jones away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jones gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Shawn Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.

Jones stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Diakite throws a sloppy head kick

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones trying to control the position but Diakite is working away.

Jones stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
It looked like Diakite wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tsulmani Diakite has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diakite.
Jones lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Some wild striking there from Diakite.
Jones checks the leg kick.
Diakite circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Diakite on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diakite stuffs the takedown.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diakite swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diakite lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diakite throws a leg kick

and Jones counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jones.
Jones controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diakite keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

Diakite wants to control position but Jones is using a can opener to pass guard... He's turned it into a full on guillotine from mount now! Big trouble for Diakite here! He's turning a lovely shade of purple and yep! He's tapping out! I would say world class Jiu Jitsu but is it really? It was nice but let's not get silly about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Shawn Jones!
An out of breath and clearly excited Shawn Jones thanked KnockOut for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).