PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Preston Lawson (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
Lawson

195 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 Los Angeles, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Preston Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jones defends it nicely.
Lawson tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Lawson misses with a double jab.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lawson tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lawson to the ground. Lawson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Lawson darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.

Lawson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lawson avoids the head kick by Jones.
Jones scores with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones fails with the takedown.
Lawson scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lawson defends well and Jones ends up having to push Lawson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lawson wants to counter with a clinch but Jones pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones instigates a clinch.

Lawson breaks the clinch.
Lawson fails with the takedown
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Lawson.
Lawson moves out of range of the body kick from Jones.
Lawson shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Jones as Lawson shoots in.
Lawson looks winded!
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Lawson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jones defends it nicely.
Jones seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones clinches up with Lawson and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lawson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jones tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawson avoids the damage to the body.
Lawson controlling the action here for a moment.
Lawson jumps guard but Jones turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lawson jumps into guard, dragging Jones to the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawson is on top in guard.

Jones lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lawson is trying to keep Jones in close.
Jones wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
Lawson keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lawson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Jones has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Lawson looking to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jones.

Lawson breaks from the clinch.
Jones pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lawson back to the cage. Jones follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Preston Lawson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Lawson back into the cage.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
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 Jon Jones will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Preston Lawson's cut.
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 lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jones misses with a takedown

and Lawson counters by clinching up.
Lawson effectively controlling the action here.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lawson has him pressed against the cage.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lawson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jones manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Lawson as Jones shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lawson defends well and Jones ends up having to push Lawson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lawson instigates a clinch.
Lawson stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson pulls guard successfully.
Lawson tries to strike from the bottom.

Lawson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lawson is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.
Lawson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones looking to sit in guard and control but Lawson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lawson controls the pace.
Lawson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lawson stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Lawson trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lawson manages to get himself to full guard.

Jones trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones stays in close to Lawson's body and controls the position.
Jones trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lawson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Jones keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Lawson shows good takedown defense.
Lawson shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lawson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jones manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jon Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawson fails with the takedown

and Jones counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lawson is trying to force a seperation but Jones has the dominant position.
Jones has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lawson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jones gets underhooks to prevent Lawson's takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lawson is defending well.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jones.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Preston Lawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Preston Lawson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Jones scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lawson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
Jones feinted with a counter takedown.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lawson swivels and escapes.
Jones stuffs the takedown.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Lawson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A punch combination from Lawson misses.
Good leg kick by Jones there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Jones has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones jumps guard and drags Lawson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Preston Lawson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lawson gets to his feet. Jones looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jon Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawson is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones has a takedown stuffed.
Lawson wants to counter with a clinch but Jones pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawson scores with a kick to the midsection.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.

Lawson manages to break the clinch.

Jones moves into the clinch.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawson's elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Jones.

Lawson breaks the clinch.
Lawson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Lawson goes for a double leg but Jones avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jones continues to drive forward.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Lawson tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Lawson drops back down to his feet.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones scores with a jab to the body.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Jones drives through and clinches with Lawson against the cage.
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!

Lawson breaks from the clinch.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Lawson.
Jones is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lawson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Lawson in a clinch.
Lawson lands a knee to the body.

Jones breaks the clinch.

Lawson moves into range and clinches up with Jones.
Jones wants to stall.
Lawson tries a body shot but Jones blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson can't get the takedown.
Lawson missing with knees to the body.

Jones manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Lawson stands and steps away. Jones gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lawson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
Lawson is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.
Lawson jumps guard but Jones turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jon Jones!