PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lazaro Casanova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daunte Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Casanova
vs
Jackson

186 cm
20
204 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lazaro Casanova!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daunte Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Casanova lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Casanova is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Casanova goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Casanova looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jackson dodges the punch combination from Casanova.

Jackson has closed the distance and engaged Casanova in a clinch.
Jackson is pushing Casanova up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jackson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jackson has Casanova pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Casanova manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Casanova throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Casanova throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson tries to clinch but Casanova is having none of it.

Casanova fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jackson sprawls well initially but Casanova persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jackson is trying to control but can't.
Casanova passes to side control.
Jackson is looking for a sweep.
Jackson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Casanova off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casanova turns into Jackson and is now in his guard.
Casanova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson 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.
Casanova postures up.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Casanova from controlling successfully.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jackson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Casanova defends easily.
Jackson looks gassed!

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Casanova defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casanova controls from within his opponent's guard.
Casanova won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.
Casanova pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Casanova doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Casanova manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Casanova has passed into half guard!

Jackson looking for submissions off his back.
Jackson tries to get to full guard but Casanova has control of the leg.
Casanova wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.

Jackson actively working from the bottom here.
Casanova is trying to control. Jackson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Casanova circles away from the clinch attempt.
Casanova throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Casanova.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Casanova.
Casanova shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jackson but Jackson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lazaro Casanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Casanova lands with a kick to the temple. Jackson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lazaro Casanova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casanova keeps the fight on the outside.
Casanova is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Jackson tries to clinch but Casanova is having none of it.
Jackson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick from Casanova.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Casanova circles away and keeps his distance.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jackson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Casanova tries to reverse the position but Jackson maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazaro Casanova dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Casanova counters with a solid body kick.
A combination from Casanova does no damage.

Casanova gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson slips nicely into half guard.
Casanova regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jackson passes into half guard.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but Casanova defending well.
Casanova tries to get to full guard but Jackson has control of the leg.
Jackson wants to control but Casanova is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Casanova is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Casanova knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Casanova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jackson trying to control but Casanova is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jackson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Jackson closes the distance and pushes Casanova back into the cage.
Casanova wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson tries to break free but Casanova pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Jackson on the inside.
Casanova unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jackson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Casanova blocks a body shot from Jackson.
Jackson is trying to maintain a safe position but Casanova gets an underhook and turns Jackson into the cage.

Casanova breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Casanova feints and as Jackson raises his hands in defense, Casanova changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casanova slips nicely into half guard.
Jackson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jackson.

Jackson working for a triangle but Casanova defends it easily.

Casanova avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Casanova defends it easily.
Casanova passes Jackson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is staying active underneath Casanova, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jackson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Daunte Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Casanova won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Casanova defends easily.
Casanova tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.

Jackson has his foot on Casanova's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Casanova works his way back into a safe position though.

Casanova gets to his feet - Jackson follows without any prompting.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Casanova is trying to force a seperation but Jackson has the dominant position.
A left hand lands to the body for Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Jackson has Casanova pressed against the cage, preventing Casanova from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jackson is struggling to control the position.
Jackson lands with a right to the head.
Casanova avoiding damage as Jackson throws knees to the body.
Casanova tries to circle away but Jackson has him pinned against the cage.

Jackson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Casanova looking to control.
Jackson is pushing down on Casanova's leg trying to pass to half guard. Casanova is fighting to maintain full guard but Jackson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Jackson stalling away here and it's allowed Casanova to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Casanova is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casanova wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Jackson cracks Casanova with a nice body shot.

Jackson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jackson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jackson is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daunte Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.
Casanova is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Jackson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Casanova doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jackson.
Jackson tries to pass to full mount but Casanova defends it.
Jackson wants to take a breather but Casanova is having none of it.
Jackson throwing shots but Casanova is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throws a strike aimed at the side of Casanova's head but Casanova avoids it well.
Casanova is trying to improve his position.

Jackson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Casanova with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Jackson clinches.
Casanova is trying to force a seperation but Jackson has the dominant position.

Casanova's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Casanova has closed the distance and engaged Jackson in a clinch.
Jackson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jackson tries to pull guard but Casanova holds him up against the cage and eventually Jackson drops back down to his feet.
Jackson lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Casanova misses with some punches.
Casanova is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jackson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jackson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Casanova's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jackson moves into the clinch.
Jackson jumps guard but Casanova stands there with Jackson around his waist. Jackson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lazaro Casanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daunte Jackson.

Casanova manages to break the clinch.

Jackson rushes Casanova and presses him up against the cage.

Casanova escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jackson moves into the clinch.
Casanova wants to break free but Jackson has control.

Casanova pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Casanova looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Casanova.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Jackson prevents Casanova from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Casanova's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Casanova is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.

Jackson jumps into guard, dragging Casanova to the mat.
Casanova looking to sit in guard and control but Jackson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jackson pushes down on Casanova's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jackson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Jackson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Casanova knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson works his way into full mount!
Jackson with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Casanova tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Casanova holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jackson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jackson looking to ground and pound but Casanova is blocking nicely.
Casanova is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jackson looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daunte Jackson really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Casanova feints and as Jackson raises his hands in defense, Casanova changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Casanova got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jackson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Casanova has managed to get both his arms back between Jackson's legs - danger averted.
Casanova sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jackson is looking for a triangle but Casanova pushes his legs off easily.
Casanova wants to get up but he can't break Jackson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Jackson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Casanova can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Casanova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casanova is working hard here to advance position.
Jackson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Casanova!
Jackson moves to take his opponent's back.

Jackson is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Casanova with him. Casanova is trying to defend but Jackson has an arm under the chin now! Casanova grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Daunte Jackson!
Daunte Jackson is the new light heavyweight champion!