PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mati King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Jones acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

King
vs
Jones

183 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mati King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyler Jones!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

King pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
King has a closed guard, preventing Jones from standing up.
King wants to sweep but no luck.
Jones wants to stand and escape but instead King has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but King can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

King gets to his feet. Jones looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
King throws a solid leg kick but Jones takes the impact on his shin and smiles at King.
King really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.
King tries to land a leg kick but Jones saw it coming and moves away.

King forces Jones back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but King has the dominant position.

King successfully pulls guard.
Jones throws a strike but King rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
King is fighting to break Jones's control of his arms but Jones is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
King is looking to stand up but Jones won't let him.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jones wants to stand but King is controlling the position.

King decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
King tries a low kick but Jones avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jones manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jones checks the leg kick nicely there.
King throws a leg kick but Jones sees it coming and moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jones checks a leg kick.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.
King keeps control of Jones as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing King from standing up.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
King gets to his feet. Jones looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
King misses with a low kick as Jones jumps back.
King fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jones has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
King connects with an inside leg kick.
King is breathing heavily.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Jones scores with a four punch combination!
King tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jones checks a leg kick nicely.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jones bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of King's head.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
King slips a jab from Jones.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
Jones takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
King connects with a leg kick. Jones looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
King throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
King scores with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Jones.

Jones gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.
Jones is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

King breaks the clinch.
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
Mati King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones swings away with a leg kick that misses.
King tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but King manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - King looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but King was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King throws a leg kick but Jones checks it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jones.

King moves into the clinch.
Jones lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King tries to pull guard but Jones forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jones can't break the clinch.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mati King dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
Jones fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
King has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

King closes the distance and clinches.

King manages to break the clinch.
Jones scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
King finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jones takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
Jones tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jones.
King checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jones checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Jones.
Jones connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jones throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Jones.

King clinches.

King pulls guard effortlessly.
Jones wants to stand and escape but instead King has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

King decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Good leg kick by King there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
King circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jones is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.

King clinches up with Jones and pushes him back against the cage.

King manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but King sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
King wants to slow Jones down by chopping away at his legs.
Jones lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
Mati King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
King throws a quick inside leg kick.

King has closed the distance and engaged Jones in a clinch.

King successfully pulls guard.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jones.
Jones wanted to stand there but King had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
King pulls Jones in close to his closed guard and prevents Jones from doing any damage or advancing position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from King.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tyler Jones wasn't active enough on the ground.

Jones forces King back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mati King is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

King has managed to clinch.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but King has the dominant position.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
King avoids a kick to the body.
King attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jones on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by King. King obviously looking to wear him down.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
King wants to clinch.
Jones checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mati King dominated that second round.
That's time! King's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

King blocks a head kick by Jones.
King tries to work over Jones's front leg with a kick but Jones checks it.
Nice jab there from Jones.
Jones throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
King tries to score with a low kick but Jones moves his leg out of the way.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Jones circles away.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but King is just out of range.

King instigates a clinch.
King has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jones after a bit of a struggle.

King has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jones uses from the top position.
Jones trying to move into half guard but instead King has managed to sweep!

King decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jones throws a series of punches but King avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jones lands a nice looking body shot.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jones's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jones, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jones is looking to break free of the clinch but King has double underhooks.
King is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab lands there for Jones.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

King drives through and clinches with Jones against the cage.
Jones tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.
King tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mati King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King working hard to break the clinch.
King has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.

King manages to break the clinch.
Jones looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.
King tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
King is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Jones.
Jones throws a push kick but King slaps the foot to one side.
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 tries to keep at a distance but King has taken the fight into the clinch.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Jones breaks the clinch.
King stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and King wants it to stay on the feet.
Jab, jab by Jones - just one landing.
King tries to clinch but Jones is having none of it.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.

King pushes Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from King.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jones controlling the action here.
King gets full guard.
Jones wants to stand and escape but instead King has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

King stands up from Jones's guard - King perhaps looking for a knockout.
King blocks a head kick by Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King has Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
King keeps control of Jones as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jones is looking for a takedown.

King pulls Jones into guard.
Jones wants to stand and escape but instead King has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

King gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tyler Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
King tries to clinch

and Jones moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
Mati King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

King successfully pulls guard.

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

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 Mati King.
Well King 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mati King!
Mati King decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.