PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mateusz Szmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has chosen All I Do Is Win as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Szmidt
vs
Jones

183 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
193 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mateusz Szmidt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Jones!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szmidt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Szmidt gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Szmidt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Szmidt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Szmidt with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mateusz Szmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Szmidt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jones sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Szmidt drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Szmidt is looking to stand up but Jones won't let him.
Szmidt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones kicks Szmidt off and gets to his feet.
Szmidt fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Szmidt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Szmidt.

Jones shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Szmidt napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Szmidt takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Szmidt is breathing heavily.
Jones in side control, throwing shots but Szmidt defends.
Szmidt is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is chipping away with strikes.
Jones lands a decent elbow from side control.
Jones grinds an elbow into Szmidt's temple.
Jones throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jones creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Szmidt sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Jones in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Szmidt is working to avoid the ground and pound but Jones connects with a decent elbow.
Jones landing a few strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sloppy strikes there by Jones.
Jones lands a decent elbow from side control.
An elbow from Jones crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szmidt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jones wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Szmidt is working to avoid the ground and pound but Jones connects with a decent elbow.
Jones works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones landing strikes.

Jones swings around for an armbar but Szmidt sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jones's guard.
Szmidt throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Szmidt trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szmidt wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Szmidt trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones keeping full guard, as Szmidt tries to pass.
Szmidt wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Jones dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jones!
Szmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jones throwing shots but Szmidt is blocking nicely.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jones connects with a nice short shot to Szmidt's temple.
Jones misses with a head shot. Szmidt uses the momentum to regain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throws a strike but Szmidt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jones being controlled here, momentarily.
Szmidt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Szmidt wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.
Szmidt pushes down on Jones's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Szmidt decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Jones counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Szmidt lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jones!
Szmidt lands a nice shot to the head.

Szmidt goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jones turns into him and now he's in Szmidt's guard.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Szmidt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working Szmidt over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Szmidt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones connects with a couple of short punches.
Szmidt trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Jones keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Szmidt's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Szmidt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Szmidt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jones but Jones pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Szmidt tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily

and Jones counters by clinching up.
Szmidt is pressed up against the cage. Jones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Szmidt down to the mat. Szmidt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Szmidt closes the distance but Jones moves to the side

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Szmidt's guard now.
Szmidt is adopting a defensive guard.
Szmidt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Justin Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Szmidt blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jones throws a strike but Szmidt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Szmidt trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Szmidt closes the distance but Jones moves to the side

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jones is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szmidt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Szmidt breaks the clinch.
Szmidt doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jones.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mateusz Szmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones with a nice head shot there.
Jones is in close to Szmidt's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szmidt trying to control the position.
Szmidt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Szmidt fails with the takedown

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Szmidt fights it but they end up in guard.

Jones is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Szmidt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Szmidt has escaped and now he's on top!
Szmidt trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szmidt wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Szmidt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Jones wriggles free and stands up.
Szmidt gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jones has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Jones!