PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mertis Falandas (ranked 1169 p4p, 1471 weight class) and KO Jacckson (ranked 160 p4p, 199 weight class). Falandas comes into the arena with Feed the Machine blaring out of the sound system. Mertis Falandas had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Falandas
vs
Jacckson

185 cm
25
170
11 - 8 - 1

177 cm
25
178
9 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mertis Falandas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, KO Jacckson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falandas slips under a jab.
Falandas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jacckson.
Falandas takes one to the chin there.
Jacckson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Jacckson misses the shot to the body.
Falandas tries to clinch up.
Jacckson tries to counter by closing the distance.
Jacckson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Falandas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Falandas tries to counter by clinching up but Jacckson breaks away and moves out of range.
Jacckson avoids the body shot from Falandas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jacckson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Falandas.
Jacckson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Falandas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Falandas looks to throw the jab but Jacckson is out of range.
Jacckson throws out a counter right but Falandas avoids it with no problem.
Falandas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falandas pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Good leg kick by Falandas.
Jacckson misses with a straight left.
Falandas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Jacckson takes one on the button.
Falandas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jacckson has time to react.
Jacckson misses the shot to the body.
Falandas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Falandas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A countering left hand to the body from Jacckson misses.
Falandas lands an overhand right.
Jacckson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Falandas is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Jacckson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Falandas manages to avoid it.
Falandas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jab from Falandas.
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!
Falandas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Falandas is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Falandas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice side step and Jacckson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Falandas misses with an uppercut. Jacckson saw that one coming.
Falandas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Falandas ducks under a wild hook from Jacckson.
Falandas moves away from the strike by Jacckson.
Jacckson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Falandas is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Jacckson slips a jab from Falandas.
Falandas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mertis Falandas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jacckson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jacckson!

It looks like Mertis Falandas has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson throws a leg kick that misses.
Falandas is looking to slow Jacckson down with leg kicks.
Falandas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Falandas throws a combination. Jacckson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jacckson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Falandas was well out of range. Poor timing from Jacckson.
Jacckson misses with a hook. Falandas ducked under it nicely.
Jacckson blocks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Falandas.
Falandas avoids the body shot from Jacckson.
Falandas connects with an inside leg kick.
Jacckson lunges at Falandas with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Falandas's hand.
Falandas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jacckson momentarily.
Falandas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jacckson walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Falandas misses with a looping left.

Falandas clinches with his opponent.

Falandas pulls guard.

Falandas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jacckson wants to control from the top but Falandas keeps moving.
Jacckson throws a big elbow that misses.

Falandas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jacckson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jacckson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Falandas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mertis Falandas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mertis Falandas'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.

Jacckson swings widly with a right hand
and Falandas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jacckson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Falandas tries a head kick but it misses.
Jacckson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jacckson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Falandas throws out the jab.
Jacckson tries to counter with a clinch but Falandas shakes him off and moves away.
Falandas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Jacckson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jacckson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Falandas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Jacckson blocks the leg kick.
Falandas tries to close the distance and clinch but Jacckson 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.

Falandas moves into range and clinches up with Jacckson.
Jacckson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Falandas backwards.
Jacckson working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from Falandas - that landed with a thud.
Falandas lands a knee to the body.
Falandas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jacckson can do to turn this around?
Jacckson struggles to land a body shot inside as Falandas controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacckson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Falandas tries a body shot but Jacckson blocks it.
Falandas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jacckson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Falandas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Falandas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Falandas tries to throw a body punch but Jacckson avoids it by throwing Falandas back against the cage.

Jacckson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Falandas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Falandas scores with a nice head shot.
Jacckson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Falandas misses with an uppercut. Jacckson saw that one coming.
Falandas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jacckson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Falandas wants to clinch.
Falandas backing away here, and Jacckson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Jacckson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falandas walks into a stiff left hand from Jacckson.
Falandas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Falandas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Falandas lands a nice looking kick to the body. Jacckson takes a step back to recover.
Jacckson throws a body punch but Falandas moves out of range.
Jacckson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Jacckson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Falandas.

Jacckson moves into the clinch.
Jacckson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Falandas's elbow.
Jacckson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Falandas's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Falandas.
Jacckson blocking some punches.
Jacckson avoiding damage as Falandas throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jacckson.

Jacckson breaks from the clinch.
Jacckson ducks under a wild hook from Falandas.
Falandas throws a head kick but Jacckson moves out of range.
Mertis Falandas is winning the standup battle so far.
Jacckson's corner calls for a 1-2. Jacckson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jacckson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice cross by Jacckson.
Falandas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Falandas throws a leg kick but Jacckson checks it.
Falandas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Falandas tries to clinch there but Jacckson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson throws a sloppy head kick and Falandas moves out of range easily.
Jacckson drops his hands momentarily and Falandas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice cross by Falandas.

Jacckson tries to keep at a distance but Falandas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Falandas tries to pull guard but Jacckson won't allow it.
Falandas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Falandas is looking for a takedown.
We've been informed that Jacckson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mertis Falandas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jacckson can't find room to land a body shot as Falandas controls the action.
Jacckson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jacckson misses with a punch on the inside.
Jacckson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jacckson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jacckson scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Jacckson.
Jacckson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Falandas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mertis Falandas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mertis Falandas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jacckson digs a good body shot into Falandas's ribs.
Falandas tries to clinch but Jacckson moves away
and Jacckson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Falandas takes a swing at Jacckson's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jacckson. Falandas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Jacckson.
Falandas tries to clinch but Jacckson moves out of range.
Jacckson throws a counter combo.
Jacckson walks into a straight right hand from Falandas.
Jacckson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falandas misses with a hook.
It seemed like Jacckson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jacckson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Falandas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Falandas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Falandas's corner calls for a 1-2. Falandas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falandas tries to clinch
letting Jacckson counter with a right hand.
Falandas tries to clinch up.
Falandas throws a good cross that connects.

Jacckson clinches with his opponent.
Jacckson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Falandas misses with a punch to the body.
KO Jacckson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Jacckson lands with a left to the head.
Falandas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Falandas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jacckson lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Falandas throws a punch but it's blocked by Jacckson.
Falandas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jacckson misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Jacckson.
Falandas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jacckson.
Jacckson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Falandas tries to work over Jacckson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mertis Falandas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson swings wildly with an uppercut but Falandas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Falandas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
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!
Jacckson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Falandas blocks a body shot from Jacckson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Falandas.

Jacckson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A chopping leg kick lands by Falandas.
Falandas throws a body punch but Jacckson moves out of range.
Jacckson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jacckson looks to land a right hand but Falandas moved out of range.
As Jacckson tries to get set, Falandas tries to push him back and clinch up but Jacckson manages to avoid the attempt.
A head kick misses from Falandas.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Jacckson! But no joy.
Falandas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jacckson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falandas throws a leg kick
and Jacckson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Falandas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jacckson's sensitive parts.
Falandas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jacckson.
Falandas works Jacckson's body with a nice hook.
Falandas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jacckson.
Falandas is looking to counter the offense by Jacckson and move into the clinch.
Falandas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jacckson feints the counter takedown.
KO Jacckson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Falandas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jacckson on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Falandas takes the fight into the clinch.
Jacckson pushes Falandas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson cracks Falandas with a nice body shot.
Jacckson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jacckson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jacckson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Falandas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jacckson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Falandas backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Falandas.
Jacckson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Falandas's elbow.
Jacckson tries to throw a body punch but Falandas avoids it by throwing Jacckson back against the cage.
Jacckson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Falandas blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
KO Jacckson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Falandas 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mertis Falandas!
A relieved looking Mertis Falandas thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.