PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Greg Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jian Lieu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lieu comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Da Rockwilder" by Method Man and Redman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Greg Jackson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jackson
vs
Lieu

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
159 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Greg Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jian Lieu!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lieu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jackson is able to avoid easily.

Jackson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jackson lands in his opponent's guard.
Jackson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jackson stops Lieu from standing up.
Jackson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lieu being controlled here, momentarily.
Lieu trying to keep a closed guard but Jackson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
Jackson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jackson pushing down on Lieu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Jackson not doing much here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Greg Jackson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Lieu looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.

Jackson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lieu manages to get to full guard.
Jackson is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lieu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jackson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jackson preventing the sweep.
Lieu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lieu is retaining full guard.
Jackson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lieu is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Jackson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lieu did well to prevent Jackson getting side control.
Lieu is trying to stand back up but Jackson is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lieu wants to improve his position but Jackson is controlling well.
Jackson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lieu wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson is taking a breather. Lieu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Jackson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jackson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lieu was covering up waiting for the punch and Jackson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Lieu is keeping the position.
Jackson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jackson preventing the sweep.
Jackson stays in close to Lieu's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Lieu is keeping the position.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
Lieu keeping full guard, as Jackson tries to pass.
Jackson stops Lieu from standing up.
Jackson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lieu is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jackson controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Greg Jackson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jackson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lieu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lieu.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lieu as he avoids it easily.
Lieu misses with a hook.
Lieu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lieu misses with a double jab.
Greg Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Lieu misses.
Lieu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jackson doesn't seem bothered though.

Lieu lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Jackson sprawling to the canvas. Lieu follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Jackson hang on?
Lieu prevents Jackson from standing back up.
It looks like Lieu is going to stand back up.

Lieu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jackson is just riding it out for now. Lieu eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lieu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jackson is just riding it out for now. Lieu eventually gives up the hold.
Jackson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jackson tries to get out of the position.
Jackson won't allow Lieu to pass to mount.
Lieu wants to stand up but Jackson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lieu on the ground.
Lieu is trying to control the action in half guard but Jackson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jackson gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jackson prevents Lieu from standing back up.
Jackson controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lieu for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jian Lieu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lieu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lieu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Lieu misses its intended target.
Lieu throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.

Jackson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jackson controlling from the top position.
Lieu wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lieu is keeping the position for now.
Lieu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jackson is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu looking for a sweep. Not yet Lieu, not yet.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lieu is retaining full guard.
Lieu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jackson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Lieu manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Lieu trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lieu misses the jab.
Lieu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Jackson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lieu is looking to escape.
Lieu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Greg Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Greg Jackson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A punch combination from Lieu misses.
Jackson dodges the punch combination from Lieu.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lieu as he jumps to the side.

Jackson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Lieu has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Lieu is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Jackson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lieu wants to stand but Jackson is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Jackson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Lieu looking to control but Jackson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jackson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Lieu wants to stand but Jackson is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Jackson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jackson 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

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