PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roy Jones Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tili Sikahele (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 Jr
vs
Sikahele

210 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 The Island, Roy Jones Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tili Sikahele!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sikahele looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sikahele is looking to clinch but Jones Jr is avoiding it.
Sikahele leaves Jones Jr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jones Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sikahele defends well and Jones Jr ends up having to push Sikahele into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Jones Jr ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jones Jr no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Jones Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sikahele wants to control from the top but Jones Jr keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jones Jr holds on and takes a little breather.
Sikahele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jones Jr 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikahele wants to stand but Jones Jr is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jones Jr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Roy Jones Jr.
Jones Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jones Jr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Jones Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sikahele shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Sikahele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jones Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sikahele misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sikahele tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones Jr swivels and escapes.
Sikahele fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
Jones Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sikahele defends well and Jones Jr ends up having to push Sikahele into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sikahele working hard to break the clinch.

Sikahele breaks the clinch.
Sikahele fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Sikahele tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones Jr smiles and moves away.
Jones Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Sikahele sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Jones Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jones Jr is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jones Jr working hard to break the clinch.
Jones Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sikahele pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sikahele shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones Jr as he jumps to the side.
Sikahele looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikahele throws a poor cross that misses
and Jones Jr counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sikahele tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jones Jr is able to avoid easily.

Jones Jr clinches up with Sikahele and pushes him back against the cage.
Jones Jr wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sikahele manages to break the clinch.
Jones Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sikahele tries to avoid it but Jones Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sikahele to the ground. Sikahele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jones Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones Jr jumps guard but Sikahele turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jones Jr is trying to push Sikahele away but Sikahele has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jones Jr stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Jones Jr dominated that round.
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 Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Jones Jr rushes Sikahele and presses him up against the cage.
Jones Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sikahele backwards.
Jones Jr prevents Sikahele from breaking the clinch.
Sikahele wants to get back to striking at distance but Jones Jr won't allow it.
Sikahele has Jones Jr pressed against the cage, preventing Jones Jr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sikahele has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jones Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sikahele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sikahele wants to clinch

and Jones Jr moves into the clinch.
Sikahele tries to pull guard but Jones Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikahele is trying to pull guard but Jones Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roy Jones Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tili Sikahele.
Sikahele jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jones Jr walks away with a smile on his face. Sikahele gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A jab lands there for Jones Jr.
Sikahele tries to clinch but Jones Jr moves out of range.

Sikahele shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jones Jr is trying to defend but Sikahele finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jones Jr preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Sikahele is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jones Jr defends it well.
Jones Jr gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones Jr is pulling down on Sikahele's head. It's preventing any offense from Sikahele, at least for the moment.
Jones Jr throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Jones Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sikahele wants to control from the top but Jones Jr keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jones Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sikahele defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones Jr keeping moving, preventing Sikahele from controlling successfully.
Sikahele throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones Jr 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 Jr pushes Sikahele off and gets back to his feet.

Jones Jr has Sikahele up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones Jr effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones Jr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jones Jr pulls guard successfully.
Jones Jr pulls Sikahele in to control the position.
Sikahele trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikahele is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Sikahele advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jones Jr is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sikahele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sikahele's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Jones Jr dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jones Jr takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jones Jr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jones Jr throws a sloppy head kick
and Sikahele counters with a three punch combo that has Jones Jr backing up. Jones Jr nods at Sikahele to acknowledge the strikes.
Sikahele takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sikahele.
Jones Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Sikahele darts in trying to clinch

and Jones Jr counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sikahele's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jones Jr gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones Jr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Jones Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones Jr throws a right and a left that Sikahele avoids nicely.
Sikahele has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones Jr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sikahele.
Sikahele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sikahele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sikahele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones Jr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sikahele is looking to clinch but Jones Jr is avoiding it.
Jones Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Sikahele. Sikahele gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sikahele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones Jr somewhat.
Sikahele closes the distance and clinches up with Jones Jr, looking for a takedown. Sikahele pushes Jones Jr against the cage but Jones Jr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sikahele tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jones Jr defends well and Sikahele ends up having to push Jones Jr into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sikahele tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones Jr smiles and moves away.
Tili Sikahele seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Jones Jr closes the distance and clinches.

Jones Jr pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jones Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sikahele is aware though and is defending well.
Sikahele in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roy Jones Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones Jr wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikahele passes into half guard.
Sikahele wants to take a breather but Jones Jr is having none of it.
Jones Jr controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Jones Jr tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikahele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones Jr keeps working.
Sikahele tries to pass to full mount but Jones Jr defends it.
Jones Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jones Jr wants to control but Sikahele is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jones Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones Jr wants it to stay on the feet.
Tili Sikahele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roy Jones Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roy Jones Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sikahele throws a leg kick but Jones Jr sees it coming and moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Jones Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jones Jr, 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

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