PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Jones (ranked 4297 p4p, 448 weight class) and Simon Epstien (ranked 6214 p4p, 591 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jones
vs
Epstien

190 cm
25
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Epstien!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Epstien sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.

Jones fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Epstien, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones can't get the takedown.
Jones taking a breather.
Epstien tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Epstien manages to break the clinch.
Jones fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Epstien avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones throws a leg kick but Epstien moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Epstien scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Epstien shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Epstien.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Epstien sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Epstien throws a counter combo.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by Epstien. Epstien maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jones stalling.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Epstien has him pressed against the cage.
Epstien has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jones leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Epstien has him pressed against the cage.
Epstien leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jones blocks a body shot from Epstien.
Epstien has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Epstien.
Epstien doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Epstien prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Epstien prevents it.
Jones gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Epstien.
Epstien prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.

Epstien successfully pulls guard.
Epstien is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Epstien is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones stands and throws Epstien's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jones misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Epstien can't do much from the bottom here.
Jones looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Epstien is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simon Epstien will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Epstien fails with a takedown attempt.
Epstien shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
Daniel Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones tries for a takedown but Epstien sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jones leaves Epstien with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Daniel Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Epstien.
Epstien fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epstien tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Epstien takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Simon Epstien has been cut.
Epstien tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jones defends well and Epstien ends up having to push Jones into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Epstien shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Epstien's waist but Epstien gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
Jones avoids a kick to the body.

Epstien takes the fight into the clinch.
Epstien tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
Jones jumps guard but Epstien stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones is trying to pull guard but Epstien turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Epstien wants a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jones - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Jones tries to pull guard but Epstien won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Epstien dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jones jumps guard but Epstien turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Epstien manages to pull guard.
Epstien looking to control.
Jones is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Epstien trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epstien is trying to hold Jones in close to prevent damage but Jones has managed to pass into half guard.
Jones stops Epstien from getting back to his feet.
Epstien is looking for a sweep. Jones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Epstien wants to get back to full guard.
Epstien is in trouble now - Jones has advanced to mount!
Jones controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epstien tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
Jones controlling the pace for now.
Epstien blocking the ground and pound.
Jones unloads with some shots from mount but Epstien bucks and avoids them well.
Jones looking to control but Epstien is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Jones dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Simon Epstien's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Epstien tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones swivels and escapes.
Jones dives in for a single leg takedown but Epstien sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Jones gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Epstien to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Epstien from controlling successfully.
Epstien must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jones uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones tries for a takedown but Epstien sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones misses with a leg kick
letting Epstien counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstien slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Epstien darts in looking for a takedown but Jones gets double underhooks and turns Epstien into the cage.
Epstien tries to clinch but Jones is having none of it.
Jones displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Epstien.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Epstien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Epstien tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jones swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Epstien tries to get set, Jones tries to push him back and clinch up but Epstien manages to avoid the attempt.
Jones stuffs the takedown.
Jones tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Epstien manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Epstien has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jones has Epstien pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Epstien manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Epstien breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Epstien.
Epstien tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Epstien has his takedown stuffed

and Jones moves into the clinch.
Jones is looking for a takedown.

Epstien decides to pull guard.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Epstien.
Daniel Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Epstien has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jones has passed into side control.
The referee asks Jones politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Jones prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Epstien is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Epstien is looking for a sweep.
A control attempt from Epstien but he's now mounted!
Jones with shots to the head and body - Epstien looks very uncomfortable down there.
Epstien wants to control but Jones is having none of it.
Epstien is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Epstien trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poor strikes thrown by Jones there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Epstien tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

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