PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sherman Paul III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherman Paul III told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Jones
vs
Paul III

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
19
198 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 New York, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sherman Paul III!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul III changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jones tries to avoid it but Paul III manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jones to the ground. Jones escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jones takes one to the side of the head.
Paul III fails with the takedown.

Jones clinches up with Paul III and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Jones as the two fighters clinch.
Paul III has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.

Jones turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jones manages to end up in side control.
Paul III is trying to work for a sweep but Jones has mounted him!
Jones trying to control but Paul III is having none of it.
Jones with a couple of short strikes.
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!
Jones scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jones is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jones fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jones landing strikes from the mount.
Jones lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Paul III flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Jones landing strikes, looking to finish!
Paul III looks gassed!
Paul III sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.
Jones lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jones blocks the strikes from Paul III.
Jones looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Paul III with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Paul III is defending against the submission attempts here by Jones.
Jones drops an elbow to the side of Paul III's head.
Jones scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jones winds up and cracks Paul III with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Jones there.
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.
Paul III wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul III throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Paul III throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.

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

Jones rushes Paul III and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jones wants a takedown.
Jones lands a knee to the body.
Paul III takes a knee right on the jaw!

Paul III is fighting off a takedown attempt but Jones is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Paul III to the mat. Paul III regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Jones keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Paul III's head.
Paul III 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 postures up and lands a big shot to Paul III's brow.
Jones lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to control from the top but Paul III keeps moving.
Jones has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Paul III throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Paul III throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jones keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Paul III's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paul III throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Paul III misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Paul III misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.
Jones looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Paul III with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Paul III throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jones moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Paul III.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working Paul III over with some ground and pound from side control.
Jones working the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paul III paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Paul III moves into the clinch.

Jones works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Paul III throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Paul III has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones landing with the ground and pound.
Paul III thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Jones landing some decent shots from guard.
Paul III will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul III throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jones postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones avoids the head kick by Paul III.
Paul III avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones shoots in and drives through. Paul III sprawls well.
Jones tries to clinch but Paul III is having none of it.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paul III pinned against the cage. Paul III gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul III fails with the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Paul III scores with a four punch combination!
Paul III tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones rushes Paul III and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Jones works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Jones postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paul III preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Jones stands up over Paul III, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Paul III throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Jones scoring with some ground and pound.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones is looking to clinch but Paul III is avoiding it.
Jones clinches but Paul III breaks the clinch

and Paul III counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jones lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Paul III lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
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 pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Paul III just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones wants a takedown but no success here.
Paul III prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jones lands with a right to the head.

Paul III manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul III swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Jones throws a left and a right that both miss
and Paul III counters with a low kick, right behind Jones 's knee.
Paul III tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jones counters by clinching up.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Paul III.
Jon Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paul III looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Paul III persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones tries to clinch but Paul III moves away
and Paul III counters with a nice kick to the body.
Paul III throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jones wants to clinch
and Paul III counters with a straight right hand.
Jones wants to clinch up but Paul III keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul III swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paul III sprawls well. Paul III wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Paul III.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paul III stuffs the takedown.
Paul III shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jones but Jones pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Jones rushes Paul III and presses him up against the cage.

Jones gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Paul III gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Paul III is working from the bottom.
Paul III utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jones wants to control from the top but Paul III keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Paul III blocks nicely.
Paul III looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.
Paul III thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Paul III throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Jones stalling.
Knees to the body from Jones.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Jones dominated that second round.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Paul III tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul III swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Jones shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jones was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jones with shots to the head and body - Paul III looks very uncomfortable down there.
Paul III is looking to improve his position but Jones isn't that keen on the idea.
Paul III is in a horrible position here. Jones smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Paul III is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Paul III throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jones. What's that going to do exactly?
Paul III swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones with the ground and pound from mount.
Paul III swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Jones landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul III is looking to improve his position but Jones isn't that keen on the idea.
Jones working Paul III over with strikes here.
Paul III throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jones. What's that going to do exactly?
BOOM! Jones connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Jones looking to secure an arm triangle but Paul III defends it well.
Paul III slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Jones drops an elbow to the side of Paul III's head.
Jones blocks the strikes from Paul III.
Jones is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.
Jones takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jones knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paul III on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul III flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.
Jones tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Paul III.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paul III as he jumps to the side.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jones works the jab nicely.

Paul III tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jones has Paul III pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paul III manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paul III fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones clinches but Paul III breaks the clinch
and Paul III counters with a good low kick that Jones was not able to check.

Jones moves into the clinch.
Jones lands an elbow inside that Paul III shrugs off.
Jones drops down looking for an ankle pick but Paul III pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries for a takedown but Paul III circles away easily

so Paul III counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Paul III prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Paul III thows a big elbow that misses.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Paul III postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jones wants to stand but Paul III is controlling the position.
Sherman Paul III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul III postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Paul III is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Jones pushes Paul III up against the cage in a clinch.

Jones works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.

Paul III looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paul III keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Paul III thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones landing with the ground and pound.
Jon Jones is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Jones.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

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