PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarl Ekins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ekins
vs
Jackson

186 cm
20
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jarl Ekins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekins moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Ekins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ekins tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.
Ekins throws a shot to the body.
Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ekins is looking to clinch.
Ekins just misses with a punch to the body.
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.
Ekins blocks a head kick by Jackson.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Ekins keeps it at a distance.
Ekins throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Jackson tries to clinch but Ekins moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Jackson.
Ekins moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.

Ekins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jackson, pushing him back against the cage.
Ekins managing to block the knees to the body from Jackson.
Jackson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Ekins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ekins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jackson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ekins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jarl Ekins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Jackson.
Ekins lands an uppercut.
Ekins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ekins pushes Jackson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Jackson looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekins working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jackson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ekins.

Jackson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ekins throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Ekins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson, not yet.

Jackson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ekins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ekins is looking to stand up but Jackson won't let him.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ekins wants to clinch.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jackson counters with a good low kick that Ekins was not able to check.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Ekins against the cage.
Jackson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jackson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jackson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ekins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jackson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jackson prevents a body shot from Ekins.
Jackson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ekins smiles and moves away.
Ekins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Jackson has closed the distance and engaged Ekins in a clinch.
Jackson missing with knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Ekins.
Jackson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ekins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ekins lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekins throws a head punch that misses.
Ekins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ekins avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jackson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ekins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ekins tries to score a body lock takedown but Jackson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ekins throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ekins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jackson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jackson connects with a high kick.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jackson lands a high kick!
Ekins wants to clinch but Jackson slips to the side
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Ekins shrugs it off.

Jackson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ekins avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jackson jumps guard but Ekins stands there with Jackson around his waist. Jackson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ekins prevents the takedown attempt.
Ekins lands a left hand.
Good body shot from Ekins.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ekins.
Jackson can't break the clinch.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ekins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson taking a breather.
Ekins digs a right hand into Jackson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jackson's gas tank.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jackson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Jackson scores with a hook to the body.
Jackson crunches a lovely knee into Ekins's ribcage.
Jackson wants a takedown.
Jackson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ekins throws a punch but it's blocked by Jackson.
Ekins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ekins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ekins stuffs the takedown.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ekins as he jumps to the side.
Ekins wants to clinch
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Ekins shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekins tries to clinch up

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ekins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ekins lands a left hand.
Ekins scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarl Ekins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ekins managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Jackson.
Jackson trying to control the action but Ekins is working from the bottom.
Ekins is looking for a sweep.
Jackson wants to control but Ekins is keeping him busy.
Jackson misses with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ekins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jackson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Jackson tries to clinch up.
Jackson swinging wilding here.
Jackson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ekins.

Jackson forces Ekins back against the cage and clinches.
Jackson lands a damaging elbow.
Jackson missing with knees to the body.
Ekins prevents Jackson from breaking the clinch.
Jackson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ekins prevents it.
Jackson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ekins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jackson is trying to stall.
Ekins swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ekins misses with a hook from the clinch.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ekins misses with a few strikes there.
Ekins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Jackson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ekins is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekins looks to clinch
and Jackson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jarl Ekins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ekins with a hook.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Ekins shows good takedown defense.
Jarl Ekins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Jackson.
Ekins lands a jab-cross combination.
Ekins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson fails to land the takedown.
Ekins digs a good body shot into Jackson's ribs.
Jackson closes the distance but Ekins moves to the side
and Ekins counters with a series of strikes. Jackson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jackson connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Ekins shows good takedown defense.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Ekins.

Ekins instigates a clinch.
Jackson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ekins lands a shoulder strike.
Jackson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jackson jumps guard but Ekins stands there with Jackson around his waist. Jackson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ekins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ekins up against the cage.
Ekins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ekins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jackson is looking to control Ekins's arms but Ekins gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jackson has his back to the cage.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ekins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ekins tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.
Jackson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice shot by Ekins.

Ekins has Jackson up against the cage in a clinch.
Jackson is trying to stall.
Ekins pushes Jackson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ekins lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ekins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ekins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ekins is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.

Ekins clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jarl Ekins is winning the standup battle so far.
Jackson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Jackson scores with a head kick.
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.
Ekins takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.

Jackson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jackson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Jackson stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Ekins is avoiding it.
Ekins walks into a stiff left hand from Jackson.

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!
Ekins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Jackson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekins is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ekins stalks Jackson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jackson's face. Jackson staggers backwards, shaken.
Jackson throws a sloppy head kick
and Ekins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Jackson lands a head kick!
Jackson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ekins scores with a one two! Jackson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A nice combination there by Ekins.
Jackson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ekins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ekins counters with a left and a right that stings Jackson.

Jackson clinches up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jackson breaks from the clinch.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson tries to stall but Ekins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jackson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ekins circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ekins counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ekins's head.
A punch combination from Ekins misses.
Ekins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ekins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ekins misses with a double jab

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch.
Ekins looking to stall.
Ekins lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Jackson takes a shot to the head.

Jackson is rocked!
Ekins lands an uppercut.
Jackson is still on wobbly legs! Can Ekins finish him?
Ekins unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Jackson! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Ekins is unloading with more strikes now! Jackson drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jarl Ekins!