PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Styles
vs
Jones

185 cm
22
175 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

184 cm
22
178 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $75)
Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Xavier Styles!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luke Jones!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones takes a swing at Styles's ribcage but misses.
Styles pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Styles tries to sprawl but Jones drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Jones wants to take a breather but Styles is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Styles does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Styles is looking to control Jones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Styles avoid being mounted?
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jones is trying to control. Styles wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles is trying to control but can't.

Styles manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Styles was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Styles.
Styles throws a low kick, looking for Jones's leg but Jones calmly moves out of range.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Styles misses the shot to the body.
Styles misses with a straight right.
Styles fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Jones is out of range.
Jones lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Styles in a clinch.
Jones lands a body punch.

Jones has picked Styles up - he's going for a ride! Jones dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Styles is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Jones wants to work for an arm triangle but Styles is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Styles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jones.
Styles gets full guard.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones wants to control from the top but Styles keeps moving.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jones trying to control but Styles is working from the bottom.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styles controlling Jones's posture.
Jones landing some decent shots from guard.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Styles blocks nicely.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Jones dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jones loads up on a big right hand but Styles slips the punch.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Jones smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jones blocks a head kick by Styles.
Jones tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Styles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Styles misses with a looping left.
Styles scores with a head kick.
Styles throws a chopping leg kick but Jones manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Styles. Beautiful body shot.
Styles goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Styles keeps the fight on the outside.

Styles gets caught flat footed, as Jones shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styles utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Styles avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Jones.
Styles defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles is trying to escape the position but Jones is controlling the position.
Styles is looking for a sweep.
Styles parries the strikes from Jones easily there. Jones is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Styles to escape.
Styles is trying to escape the position but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones working away.
Jones working the head and body with strikes.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Styles keeps working.
Styles is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles is letting Jones control him for a moment.
Jones works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Styles is trying to control Jones's posture but Jones avoids it.
Jones happy to just control the position for now.
Luke Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles is looking for a sweep.
Styles is not content to let Jones control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Styles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luke Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jones scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jones.
Xavier Styles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones misses with a lunging right hand
and Styles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Styles misses with a low kick.
Jones throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Styles. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Styles circles away.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Xavier Styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones lands a jab to Styles's midsection.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Styles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luke Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Jones.

Jones drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Styles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones wants to control from the top but Styles keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Styles pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Xavier Styles just wasn't active enough.
Jones scores with a three punch combo!

Jones instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeps control of Styles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones is working Styles over against the cage.
Jones goes for a takedown attempt but Styles pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A punch combination from Jones misses.
Jones uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Styles.
Styles throws an overhand right that lands on Jones's shoulder, as Jones tries to avoid the shot.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones tries for a takedown but Styles sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores with a shot to the body.
Jones lands a jab.
Styles swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
Styles slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Styles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Styles throws a hook but Jones blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Jones really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jones rushes Styles and presses him up against the cage.
Jones changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Styles fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Styles throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jones takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jones looks to land a left hand but Styles moved out of range nicely.
Styles lands with a shot to the body.
Jones checks a leg kick.
Styles is looking to wear down Jones with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jones avoids the body shot from Styles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles misses with a few strikes there.

Jones throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Styles was covering up waiting for the punch and Jones finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jones looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Styles is working hard here to advance position.
Jones is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jones in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luke Jones was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jones swings away with a body shot that misses
and Styles counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jones misses with a body shot.
Xavier Styles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones throws an off balance right hand
and Styles counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Styles pinned against the cage. Styles gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Styles lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Styles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Styles throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Jones throws an off balance right hand
and Styles counters with a leg kick.
Jones uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Styles.
Styles takes a shot to the body in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones shoots in but Styles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Xavier Styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Jones.
Styles looks to land a combination. Jones sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Styles had his way with Luke Jones in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Styles gets tackled into the cage by Jones. Jones maintains the clinch.
Jones stalling the fight.
Jones working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jones lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Styles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones just misses with a punch to the body.
Styles misses with a body shot.
Jones fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Styles on the side of the head.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Styles moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to clinch up but Styles circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones takes a swing at Styles's ribcage but misses.
That kick from Styles tenderised Jones's leg. Jones is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Styles.
Jones lands with a nice combination. Styles backs away looking to recover.
Xavier Styles is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones wants to clinch up but Styles keeps it at a distance.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Styles just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Styles does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones drives through with a takedown into guard.
Styles is looking to sweep but instead, Jones has passed into half guard.
Jones controlling the action here.
Styles tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.
Jones content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Styles is defending well.
Styles taking some punishment here, with Jones in his half guard.
Styles trying to control from the bottom.
Styles manages to get to full guard.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Luke Jones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones content to stall in guard here.
Xavier Styles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Luke Jones.
Styles looking to land some kicks to the body here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 47:48
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Jones!
Luke Jones is the new welterweight champion!
Luke Jones managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, TFP Graphics - Pit Inc, into his post fight interview.