PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyrell Jackson (ranked 2299 p4p, 244 weight class) and Steve Cho (ranked 2627 p4p, 273 weight class). Jackson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The World is Yours. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Jackson
vs
Cho

166 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

168 cm
25
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyrell Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Cho!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson has his takedown stuffed
and Cho counters with a nice uppercut.
Jackson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt
and Cho connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cho wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrell Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson fails with the takedown
and Cho counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jackson misses with a body kick.
Jackson misses with a takedown
enabling Cho to counter with a crisp jab.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown but Cho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jackson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson has his takedown stuffed
and Cho counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cho swivels and escapes.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Jackson shoots and misses
and Jackson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cho is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Cho, which made it look bad.
Steve Cho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cho uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jackson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cho feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jacksons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cho has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Cho throws a low kick but Jackson moves out of range easily.
Jackson attempts a counter takedown but Cho avoids it well and moves away.
Jackson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cho counters with a stiff right hand.
Jackson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cho counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cho throws a combination. Jackson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cho displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cho stuffs the takedown.
No joy there for Cho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt
and Cho counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cho scores with a one two! Jackson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jackson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cho counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jackson is defended easily by Cho.
Cho throws a counter combo.
Cho shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Jackson eats them both and turns towards Cho to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jackson takes one to the chin there.
A left and a right from Cho both land. Nice combination.
Jackson fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cho scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jackson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cho's waist but Cho gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jackson off to one side.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Cho circles away easily
and Jackson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jackson with a poor takedown
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch combination from Cho misses.
Jackson misses with a takedown
and Cho counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tyrell Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cho connects with the punch.
Jackson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cho fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Cho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A quick step to the side and Jackson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson tries to clinch up
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson wants to clinch but Cho slips to the side
and Cho counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Cho tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Jackson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jackson lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cho looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cho dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt
and Cho counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cho connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Cho has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown but Cho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jackson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrell Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cho stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cho wants it to stay on the feet.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cho pinned against the cage. Cho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jackson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Cho to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho jabs at Jackson's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cho lands a really nice looking cross but Jackson seems unphased.
Jackson with a poor takedown
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch combination from Cho misses.
Jackson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cho counters with a right hand to the body.
Cho fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jackson on the side of the head.
Jackson has his takedown stuffed
and Cho counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cho lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cho scores with a sloppy right hand. Jackson should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson ducks right into an uppercut from Cho.
Jackson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cho counters with a three punch combo that has Jackson backing up. Jackson nods at Cho to acknowledge the strikes.
Cho looks to land a combination but Jackson avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Cho.
Cho cracks Jackson with a good jab.
Jackson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Cho against the cage.
Jackson looking for a takedown.
Cho has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jackson as Cho tries to tie him up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jackson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A head punch on the inside from Jackson fails to land.
Jackson looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho stops a takedown attempt from Jackson.
Jackson has Cho pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cho manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson prevents Cho from breaking the clinch.
Jackson lands with a left to the head.
Cho blocking some punches.
Jackson throws a head punch that misses.
Cho is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson has Cho pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cho manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cho wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Cho prevents the takedown attempt.
Cho can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on Cho's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jackson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jackson trying to control the position but instead, Cho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jackson into the cage.
Cho is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jackson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cho pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Cho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cho is working the combinations to good effect here.
Cho lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Jackson misses with the head strike.
Cho is trying to push Jackson away but Jackson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cho gets underhooks to prevent Jackson's takedown attempt.
Cho gets underhooks to prevent Jackson's takedown attempt.
Jackson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrell Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cho has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Jackson tries to score a body lock takedown but Cho shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cho is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Cho wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jackson goes for a takedown attempt but Cho pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tyrell Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cho finds it's way round the side to connect with Jackson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cho!
Cho can't do much from the bottom here.
Cho is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Cho's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steve Cho is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cho is looking for a sweep.
Cho wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cho is trying to escape the position but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson in side control, throwing shots but Cho defends.
Jackson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cho sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Jackson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Jackson throwing strikes but Cho manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Tyrell Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cho has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jackson fails with the takedown
and Cho cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cho tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cho to the ground. Cho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jackson doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Cho counter with a right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Cho. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cho.
Cho changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson dives in and grabs Cho's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cho pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
Jackson fails with the takedown
and Cho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cho's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cho duly obliges.
Jackson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson has his takedown stuffed
and Cho counters with a right hand to the body.
Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cho winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cho!
During a confident post fight interview, Steve Cho thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.