PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keith Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco's entrance music is Clobberin Time. A fine choice. Shane Jackson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Franco
vs
Jackson

178 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keith Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Franco misses its intended target.
Franco bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Jackson's head backwards.
Jackson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franco throws a hook but Jackson blocks it.
Nice jab there from Jackson.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Franco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Jackson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franco, pushing him back against the cage.
Franco is pressed up against the cage. Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franco down to the mat. Franco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jackson lands with an overhand left.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Jackson takes one on the button.
Franco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jackson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jackson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from Franco does no damage.
Franco shoots and misses

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Franco is trying to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling him.
Franco wants to break free but Jackson has control.

Jackson decides to pull guard.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco 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.
Franco wants to stand and escape but instead Jackson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Jackson landing with the ground and pound.
Jackson trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Jackson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jackson lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson postures up in Franco's guard and throws a big left but Franco blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Franco pulls Jackson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jackson from doing any damage or advancing position.

Jackson stands and steps away. Franco gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Franco throws a predictable looking body shot

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Jackson has Franco pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Franco manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Keith Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Jackson.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franco throws a shot to the body.
Jackson tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a wild body shot.

Jackson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Franco was covering up waiting for the punch and Jackson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
Jackson looks gassed!
Jackson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco is controlling Jackson's posture.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jackson trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franco throws a shot from downtown. Jackson moves away and avoids it.
Franco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
A slow jab from Franco misses its intended target.

Jackson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jackson working the head and body with strikes.

Jackson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Franco is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jackson wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franco tries to escape but Jackson is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franco lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jackson at a distance.
Franco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Franco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jackson was well out of range. Poor timing from Franco.
Jackson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.
Franco punishes Jackson's body with a nice straight punch.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franco misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Franco.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Jackson dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
Jackson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Jackson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Franco.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco misses with a jab to the body
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson misses the shot to the body.
Franco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jackson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jackson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jackson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franco.

Jackson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Jackson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franco looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Franco gets back to full guard.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Jackson gets to his feet. Franco looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jackson blocks the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Franco sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Keith Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Jackson.

Jackson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Franco, who protects the arm well.
Jackson moves into full mount!
Franco is looking to improve his position but Jackson isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is working for a guillotine from mount but Franco frees his head quite easily.
Jackson cracks Franco with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jackson tries to control but Franco wriggling away.
Jackson wants to stand but Franco is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Jackson throws some wild stikes that Franco manages to avoid easily.
Jackson looking to finish with strikes here!
Franco can't escape the position.
Jackson trying to control but Franco is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco lands a glancing blow to the side of Jackson's head.
Franco thows a left - swing and a miss!
Keith Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franco loads up on a big right hand but Jackson slips the punch.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Jackson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jackson wants to stand but Franco has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Jackson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Franco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jackson has Franco in his guard.
Franco sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jackson throws a sloppy head kick
and Franco counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.
Jackson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Franco sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franco's head.
Franco wants to improve his position but Jackson is controlling well.
It looks like Jackson is going to stand back up.

Jackson is working for a submission of some sort.
Jackson tries to pass to full mount but Franco defends it.
Jackson trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
A jab from Franco misses.
Franco misses with an uppercut. Jackson saw that one coming.
Franco swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jackson counters with a nice body shot.
Jackson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jackson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franco counters with a one-two to the body.
Jackson shoots for a takedown but Franco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson slips a jab from Franco.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franco as he jumps to the side.
Keith Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Jackson.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Franco scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Franco.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Franco throws an overhand right that lands on Jackson's shoulder, as Jackson tries to avoid the shot.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Jackson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Keith Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shane Jackson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shane Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franco is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.

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 Keith Franco.
I think Jackson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Jackson!