PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaleb Rasheed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mordecai Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasheed comes to the cage accompanied by In the air tonight. Jones is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: This Is Now by Hatebreed. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rasheed
vs
Jones

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kaleb Rasheed!
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, Mordecai Jones!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rasheed trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.
Rasheed postures up.
Jones keeping full guard, as Rasheed tries to pass.
Rasheed wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

Jones pushes Rasheed off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rasheed fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rasheed moves into the clinch.
Jones stalling the fight.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Rasheed pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jones shoots and misses
and Rasheed counters with a low kick, right behind Jones 's knee.
Kaleb Rasheed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mordecai Jones.

Rasheed drives through and clinches with Jones against the cage.
Jones lands a nice knee to the body.
Rasheed tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasheed jumps guard.
Rasheed is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones pushing down on Rasheed's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Jones postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rasheed to stand up.
Rasheed throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rasheed off to one side.

Jones shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jones was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rasheed is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rasheed is breathing heavily.

Jones get's back to his feet.

Jones darts in and clinches Rasheed up against the cage.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jones scores with a takedown into Rasheed's guard.

Jones stands up and waves to Rasheed to follow him.

Rasheed scores with a takedown into Jones's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Rasheed from controlling successfully.

Rasheed has gone for a leg lock! Jones slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rasheed's guard.

Rasheed has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jones is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rasheed.
Rasheed is looking to regain half guard here but Jones keeps moving and retains side control.
Rasheed can't do much from the bottom here.
Rasheed is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to stand but Rasheed is controlling his arm.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rasheed scores a takedown into full mount!
Rasheed scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jones?

Rasheed stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

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

Rasheed stands and steps away. Jones gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Jones decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
I looks like Jones might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasheed is in trouble now - Jones has advanced to mount!
Jones controlling the pace for now.
Rasheed could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jones working the ground and pound effectively.
Jones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rasheed is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.

Jones is standing up, even though he is in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Rasheed counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mordecai Jones will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones fails with the takedown

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

Rasheed drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Jones manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rasheed has Jones in his guard.

Jones gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mordecai Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones is tying to control. Rasheed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rasheed works his way to full guard. Good work.
Jones not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Jones decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rasheed stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rasheed misses with a takedown

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rasheed working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jones doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jones manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rasheed is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rasheed is looking to improve his position.
Jones keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Jones is working for a kimura but Rasheed is defending it quite comfortably.
Jones is keen to just control but Rasheed is a slippery customer.
Rasheed misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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.
Rasheed wants to control but Jones is keeping busy.

Jones escapes and gets back to his feet.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rasheed tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.

Jones drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones landing some decent shots from guard.
Rasheed keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Jones slows the pace down.

Jones decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rasheed to his feet.

Rasheed clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rasheed jumps guard.
Rasheed preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones trying to control but Rasheed is working from the bottom.
Rasheed manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Rasheed from controlling successfully.
Rasheed preventing the sweep.
Rasheed scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jones is trying to keep Rasheed in close.
Jones bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rasheed's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jones advances position into side control!
Jones lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rasheed counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Kaleb Rasheed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mordecai Jones.
Jones tries to lock up and control but Rasheed gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rasheed working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rasheed controlling the position easily from mount.

Rasheed stands up from mount. Strange move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasheed stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Rasheed looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rasheed trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mordecai 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones has his takedown stuffed

and Rasheed counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rasheed trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Rasheed has control of the leg.

Jones pushes Rasheed off and gets back to his feet.
Rasheed lands with a kick to the temple. Jones shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jones advances to full mount.

Jones is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rasheed can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Jones lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rasheed hang on?
Rasheed tries to reverse the position but Jones maintains control.
Rasheed looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Jones slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rasheed's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Jones keeps control of the position easily here as Rasheed tries to buck him off.
Jones tries to keep control of the position but Rasheed is staying busy.

Jones is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Will Jones go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Rasheed is in bad spot here.
Rasheed turns into Jones and is now in his guard.

Rasheed postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jones is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rasheed, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Rasheed is working from the bottom.
Rasheed trying to control the position.

Jones decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rasheed, up you get!
A head kick misses from Rasheed.
Kaleb Rasheed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rasheed counters with a single leg into guard. Jones didn't expect that.

Jones pushes Rasheed off and gets back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Jones drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jones not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rasheed keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jones keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rasheed's head.
Jones slips nicely into half guard.
Rasheed wants to get back to his feet.
Jones is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rasheed trying to control here.
Jones trying to control the action but Rasheed is working from the bottom.
Jones prevents Rasheed from improving his position.
Rasheed is working hard here to advance position.

That's four 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.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Rasheed is working away.

Rasheed actively working from the bottom here.

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

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rasheed gets full guard.
Rasheed wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Jones has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rasheed is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rasheed is trying to keep Jones in close.
Rasheed looking for a sweep. Not yet Rasheed, not yet.
Kaleb Rasheed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mordecai Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jones winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

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