PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quinton Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yavor Iliev Iliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Iliev's choice of entrance music: Likin Park - Bleed it out . Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Jackson
vs
Iliev Iliev

185 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Quinton Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yavor Iliev Iliev!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iliev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Iliev moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Iliev doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Jackson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Iliev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Iliev throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.

Jackson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Iliev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Iliev looks gassed!

Jackson tries for a kimura but Iliev is defending well.
Jackson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jackson working the ground and pound from side control.
Iliev pushes Jackson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jackson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Jackson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Iliev some visible discomfort.
Jackson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Iliev some visible discomfort.
Jackson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Iliev is trying to buck Jackson off.

Jackson is trying to get an arm triangle but Iliev is defending well.
Jackson happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson looks up at the clock and then as Iliev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jackson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jackson taking a breather here.
Jackson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jackson takes a little break here. Iliev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Iliev is trying to get back to his feet.
Jackson scoring with punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson takes a little break here. Iliev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Iliev taking a bit of punishment here - Jackson scoring with strikes.
Jackson controls the position from side control.
Jackson is working Iliev over with some ground and pound from side control.
Iliev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Jackson grinds an elbow into Iliev's temple.
Iliev is pushing Jackson's head away, looking to escape. Jackson manages to hold on to the position though.
Jackson is putting a hurting on Iliev here, landing some big shots from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iliev wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson takes a little break here. Iliev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Jackson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.
Jackson grinds an elbow into Iliev's temple.
Jackson taking a breather here.
Check out the look on Jackson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Jackson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Jackson is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Jackson is trying to get an arm triangle but Iliev is defending well.
Jackson slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Jackson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Iliev stuffs the takedown attempt from Jackson. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Iliev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jackson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quinton Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Iliev moves into the clinch.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Iliev tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Iliev to the ground. Iliev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Iliev misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Iliev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jackson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.
Iliev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Iliev is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jackson is controlling him well.

Jackson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Iliev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Iliev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Iliev is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jackson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Jackson staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iliev explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jackson.
Iliev fails to land with a series of punches.

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

Jackson is looking for a kimura here.
Iliev is trying to stand.
Iliev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jackson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iliev is trying to stand back up but Jackson is controlling him
Jackson content to control rather than advance.
Jackson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Quinton Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Quinton Jackson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Some wild striking there from Iliev.

Jackson shoots in and gets a takedown into Iliev's guard.
Iliev wants to stand and escape but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Iliev wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Quinton Jackson.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Iliev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Iliev.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Iliev but Iliev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Iliev throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Jackson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Iliev throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Iliev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Iliev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Jackson gets a double leg takedown into Iliev's guard.
Jackson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Iliev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Jackson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Iliev being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson working some strikes from top position.
Jackson chips away with some ground and pound.
Jackson controlling from the top position.
Iliev wants to stand and escape but Jackson is having none of it.
Iliev being controlled here, momentarily.
Iliev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Quinton Jackson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jackson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Iliev can do to turn this around?

Jackson scores with a takedown into Iliev's guard.
Iliev wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Jackson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Iliev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Iliev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Iliev!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
Jackson stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Jackson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Iliev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Iliev stands up.
Jackson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jackson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Iliev avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quinton Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iliev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Iliev tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iliev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Iliev doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Jackson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Iliev's waist but Iliev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jackson off to one side.
Quinton Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iliev tries to clinch up.
Iliev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Iliev fails to land with a series of punches.

Jackson dives in and scores a takedown into Iliev's guard.
Iliev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jackson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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!
Iliev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jackson is controlling him.
Yavor Iliev Iliev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Quinton Jackson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson stays in close to Iliev's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quinton Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jackson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

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