PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Haral Dir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dir
vs
Jones

181 cm
27
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

200 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Haral Dir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Jones!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dir shoots in and gets a takedown into Jones's guard.
Dir is stalling in the full guard.
Jones wants to stand up but Dir is controlling him.
Dir controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Haral Dir.
Jones fails to land with a series of punches.

Jones gets caught flat footed, as Dir shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dir sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dir throws a big right hand that misses.
Dir controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dir slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir stops Jones from getting back to his feet.
Dir content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Haral Dir wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dir tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jones sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dir somewhat.
Dir on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jones lands with a cross.
Jones scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Dir is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jones's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dir moves nicely into side control.
Dir is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Jones will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones pushes Dir away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dir gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Haral Dir just wasn't active enough.
Jones lands a jab-cross combination.
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!
Dir showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jones.
Dir slips a jab and a cross from Jones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dir throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jones tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dir is in Jones's guard.
Dir stays in close to Jones's body and controls the position.
Dir has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Dir passes into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dir content to control rather than advance.

Haral Dir has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tom Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dir tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones swivels and escapes.
Dir fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones lands with a nice combination. Dir backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Haral Dir has been cut.
Jones lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Dir misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Dir feints and as Jones raises his hands in defense, Dir changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dir prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Dir is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haral Dir dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Haral Dir's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jones checks a leg kick.
Jones scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Dir avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dir is looking to clinch.
Dir on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Dir shoots in and bounces Jones off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dir stops Jones from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Dir is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Haral Dir just wasn't active enough.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones thuds a left hand into Dir's body.
Jones throws a right and a left that Dir avoids nicely.

Dir shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jones manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jones wants to stand up but Dir is controlling him.
Dir controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dir passes Jones's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dir keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dir moves nicely into side control.
Jones pushes Dir away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dir gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to escape the position but Dir is controlling the position.
Jones is trying to get back to his feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Haral Dir wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jones lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dir backs up against the cage.
Jones darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Dir takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jones blocks a leg kick.
Jones catches Dir with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jones with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Jones as Dir shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jones is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Jones avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice body punch from Jones.

Dir dives in and scores a takedown into Jones's guard.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dir controls the pace.
Dir wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Dir looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Haral Dir has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dir scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Jones.
Jones is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dir fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dir shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
Jones scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dir shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jones sprawls well. Jones wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dir gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones lands a right hook to the body.
Jones scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dir shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dir is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Jones gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dir to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Dir is having none of it.
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 Haral Dir will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Haral Dir's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Jones. No joy for Dir on that attempt.
Jones lands a jab to the nose.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dir.
Jones with a jab.
Jones cracks Dir with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Dir gets a double leg takedown into Jones's guard.
Dir controls from within his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jones wants to stand up but Dir is controlling him.
Dir seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Haral Dir just wasn't active enough.
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dir.
Jones looks to land a combination but Dir avoids it well.
Dir misses with a takedown
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Haral Dir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones lands with a cross.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dir has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jones swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dir counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jones won't be happy with that.
Jones is pushing Dir's head away, looking to escape. Dir manages to hold on to the position though.
A lull in the action here as Dir stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haral Dir has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dir shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Dir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jones throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones tests Dir's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jones connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jones swinging wildly here.
Tom Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Jones does no damage.
Tom Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a head shot.

Dir gets a double leg takedown into Jones's guard.
Dir landing some decent shots from guard.
Dir controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dir stands and throws Jones's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Dir controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Haral Dir wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jones throws a right and a left that Dir avoids nicely.
Jones tries to bum rush Dir with a series of wild strikes but Dir uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dir throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Dir takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dir shoots in but no luck this time.
Dir walks into a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dir's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jones connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dir scrambles back to his feet.
Jones throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tom Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Jones misses.
Haral Dir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Jones gets caught napping as Dir dives in and scores a takedown. Jones manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Haral Dir.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dir, 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haral Dir!