PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicles Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Gracie (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
Gracie

170 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicles Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bob Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.

Jones stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Jones fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Jones persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jones sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Gracie looks gassed!
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Jones looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gracie wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Gracie not doing much here.
Jones won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Jones moves into full guard.

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.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jones striking off his back, scoring a few points.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.

Gracie has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie trying to control but Jones is having none of it.
Gracie wants to take Jones's back here but Jones is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Jones bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jones trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Jones won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.

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 controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jones postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.
Jones thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Jones avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicles Jones dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jones raining down shots from the mount!
Gracie regains half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jones gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones postures up.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jones passes into side control.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gracie some visible discomfort.
Gracie is not content to let Jones control the position.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Jones lands an elbow.
Gracie struggling a bit here.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Jones connects with a decent elbow.
Jones working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Jones closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jones working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie is not content to let Jones control the position.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Jones is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

Jones looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a couple of elbows.
Jones showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Nicles Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Jones is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Jones and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Jones sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to keep Jones in close.

Jones gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bob Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jones passes into half guard.
Jones working Gracie over with strikes.
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!
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Jones advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicles Jones dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Jones is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jones is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jones working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Jones lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Jones is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Jones's back instead.
Gracie is trying to stick to Jones's back but Jones is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jones.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Jones slips nicely into half guard.
Jones scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jones is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jones is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.
Jones wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Jones might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jones lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jones counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Gracie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position.

Jones avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

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

Jones drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jones works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bob Gracie 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.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gracie throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicles Jones showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jones has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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