PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jhon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zayn Zafria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zafria has chosen Benga - Perfect Stranger as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jones
vs
Zafria

170 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jhon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zayn Zafria!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zafria rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Zafria tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones tries for a takedown but Zafria manages to get underhooks.
Zafria is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zafria gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jones.
Jones has Zafria pressed against the cage, preventing Zafria from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones wants to take the fight to the mat but Zafria manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zafria tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Zafria is trying to pull guard but Jones turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zafria is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Zafria is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
Zafria is trying to drag Jones to the mat but Jones just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zafria takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zafria tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zafria tries for a takedown but Jones manages to get underhooks.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zafria is looking to break free of the clinch but Jones has double underhooks.
Zafria prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.

Jones is trying to trip Zafria. He has hold of a leg but Zafria is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jones persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zafria swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones stays in close to Zafria's body and controls the position.
Jones's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jones passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zafria is looking to reverse the position.
Jones scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Zafria to see if he's OK.

Jones is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zafria is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zafria is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Jones stalls from top position.
Zafria can't do much from the bottom here.
Zafria tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Zafria is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Zafria is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zafria tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jhon Jones will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zafria lands with a straight right. Jones didn't see that one coming.
Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zafria defends it nicely.
Zafria shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Zafria gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zafria wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zafria has a couple of punches blocked by Jones.
Jones is working for takedown but Zafria is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zafria takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones prevents Zafria from breaking the clinch.
Jones is looking for a takedown.
Zafria working hard to break the clinch.
Zafria wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zafria is trying to stall.
Zafria tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zafria 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. Zafria gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zafria shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.

Zafria closes the distance and pushes Jones back into the cage.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zafria gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jones has Zafria pressed against the cage, preventing Zafria from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zafria throws an elbow but it misses.

Zafria gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Jones regains guard.
Jones managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zafria has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jones is proving hard to escape from.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Zafria from controlling successfully.
Zafria won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Zafria stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zayn Zafria wasn't active enough on the ground.

Zafria closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents Zafria from breaking the clinch.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zafria is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zafria tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Zafria saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zafria moves into the clinch.
Jones jumps guard but Zafria stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zayn Zafria showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zafria gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Zafria fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is stalling in the full guard.
Zafria keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones stays in close to Zafria's body and controls the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zafria managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jhon Jones.

Jones drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zafria 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.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zafria swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zafria can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jones controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zafria keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Zafria controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Zafria is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zafria manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Zafria's guard.
Zafria 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.
Jones looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jones stands and throws Zafria's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jones trying to control the action but Zafria is working from the bottom.
Jhon Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zafria gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zafria tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Jones keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zafria is looking to control Jones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zafria avoid being mounted?
Jones moves nicely into side control.
Jones controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jones content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Zafria is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jones is controlling him well.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Zafria is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jhon Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

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