PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jovani Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Grind (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Grind

178 cm
21
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jovani Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Grind!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grind instigates a clinch.
Jones is working for takedown but Grind is calmly controlling the position for now.
Grind is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Grind tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grind scores with a body shot.
Grind lands a really nice looking cross but Jones seems unphased.
Grind shoots and misses

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jovani Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Grind.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones won't allow Grind to get back to his feet.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Grind trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Jones trying to control but Grind is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind pulls Jones in close to his closed guard and prevents Jones from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jones lands a couple of digs.

Grind working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grind scores with a decent looking hook.
Grind has his takedown stuffed

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jones has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Grind is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grind looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Grind keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Grind is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grind throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Grind sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grind shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jones is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grind wants to get back to full guard.
Grind trying to control from the bottom.
Grind really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grind is trying to stand.
Jones is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jones is trying to control. Grind wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Grind shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Grind throws a leg kick

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.
Grind tries to bench press Jones off him but Jones keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grind is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Jones are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Jones misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Grind 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.
Jones fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Grind 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.
Jones working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grind throws a head kick that misses

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Grind is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grind keeping hold of Jones's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jovani Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grind doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.

Grind gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jones to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Grind looking to control.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Grind.
Jones scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grind looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grind is on top in guard.
Grind throwing strikes but missing.
Grind wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.

Jones scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jones shoots in but Grind avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Grind.

Grind rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Jones is working for takedown but Grind is calmly controlling the position for now.
Grind tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Grind lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Grind displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jones up against the cage.
Grind jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jones walks away with a smile on his face. Grind gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Grind throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.
Grind shoots and misses

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Grind fights it but they end up in guard.
Grind trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grind looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Jones postures up.
Jones won't allow Grind to sweep him here.
Grind not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jones won't allow Grind to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Grind moves into range and clinches up with Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jones can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jovani Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grind goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jones prevents it.
Grind tries for a takedown but Jones manages to get underhooks.

Grind manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Grind trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Jones preventing the sweep.

Grind is looking for a triangle but Jones pushes his legs off easily.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jones won't allow Grind to get back to his feet.
Grind manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.
Grind won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jovani Jones dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Grind, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grind sprawls well. Grind wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Grind shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Grind missing with knees to the body.
Jones has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Grind avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grind is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jovani Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Grind prevents the takedown attempt.
Grind stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
Grind tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Grind manages to pull guard.
Grind is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.
Grind is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Grind is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones being controlled here momentarily.
Grind wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jones preventing the sweep.
Grind is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones slaps away a takedown attempt from Grind, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two 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.
Grind throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

Jones fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grind sprawls well initially but Jones persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Grind is trying to maintain the position but Jones is very close to passing his half guard.
Jones is trying to control. Grind wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grind's head.
Grind trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Jones throwing shots but Grind is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grind's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Grind darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Grind is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Grind has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Grind is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones keeps control of Grind as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Grind tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones lands a left hand that snaps the head of Grind backwards.
Grind has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.

Grind turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Grind manages to end up in side control.
Jones on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jones tries to get out of the position.
Jones is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
An elbow from Grind crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones defending against the ground and pound.

Grind stands up and beckons Jones to his feet.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Grind.

Grind has Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jones is trying to drag Grind to the mat but Grind just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Grind has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones is working for takedown but Grind is calmly controlling the position for now.
Max Grind has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jovani Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grind dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Grind.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

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