PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Legba's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cruel Summer by Bananarama. Jackson has chosen Marina del Ray as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Papa Legba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Legba
vs
Jackson

166 cm
28
155 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

170 cm
29
157 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Papa Legba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cody Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jackson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Legba at a distance.
Jackson misses with a few strikes there.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jackson throws a right hand that misses
and Legba counters with a three punch combo that has Jackson backing up. Jackson nods at Legba to acknowledge the strikes.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.
Legba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Legba connects with a jab.
Legba doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Jackson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Legba eats them both and turns towards Jackson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jackson missing with a left hand there. Legba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

A jab-cross combination lands for Jackson and sends Legba crashing to the mat! Jackson follows him down to the mat - Legba regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Legba is rocked!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jackson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Oh Legba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jackson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Legba knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba trying to control from the bottom.
Jackson working the head and body with strikes.
Legba seems to have got his legs back now.
Legba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Legba is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Legba won't allow it.
Legba tries to roll over but Jackson keeps him under control.
Jackson working over Legba with some ground and pound. Legba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Legba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jackson pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jackson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Jackson seems content to control.
Legba trying to hold on to Jackson's head to control him but Jackson postures up.
Jackson is trying to control the action in half guard but Legba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jackson passes to full mount!
Jackson punching from mount but Legba doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Jackson avoids the attempt from Legba to control.
Jackson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba tries to hold on but Jackson pushes him away.
Jackson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Jackson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Legba is looking to escape.
Jackson controlling from the full mount.

Jackson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Legba has worked his arm free - good work by Legba!
Jackson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to control the position but Legba is working away.
Legba regains half guard there - taking advantage of Jackson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Legba is looking to improve his position.
Jackson is trying to control. Legba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jackson raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Jackson dominated that round.
That's time! Legba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jackson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Legba does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Jackson swinging wildly here.
Jackson misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson misses with a two punch combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Jackson scores with a four punch combination!
Jackson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jackson tries to bum rush Legba with a series of wild strikes but Legba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Legba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jackson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Legba counters with a left and a right that stings Jackson.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Legba with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Legba moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jackson throws a hook but Legba avoids it easily.
Jackson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Legba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.
Legba lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Legba looks to land a combination. Jackson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Jackson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Legba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Jackson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Legba in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Legba in side control, throwing shots but Jackson defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legba goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jackson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Legba but great work by Jackson.
Cody Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson scoring with punches and elbows.
Legba can't do much from the bottom here.
Legba is not content to let Jackson control the position.
Legba controls the position for a moment.
Legba is not content to let Jackson control the position.
Jackson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throwing strikes but Legba manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Jackson is looking to reverse the position.
Jackson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Legba's best efforts.
Legba drops an elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Jackson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Legba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Legba wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Legba tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Legba throws an elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Legba's guard. Nice move by Jackson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba 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.

Legba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Legba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Legba is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Papa Legba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Legba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jackson misses with a straight right.
Jackson misses with a double jab
and Legba counters with a right hand to the body.
Legba lands with a shot to the body.
Jackson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Papa Legba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Jackson.
Legba tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
Cody Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jackson looks to throw the jab but Legba is out of range.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Legba is looking to wear down Jackson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jackson walks into a jab.
Legba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Jackson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a leg kick
and Legba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Jackson gets tackled into the cage by Legba. Legba maintains the clinch.
Legba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jackson's elbow.
Jackson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Legba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jackson trying to control the position but instead, Legba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jackson into the cage.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Legba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Legba avoids the body shot from Jackson.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A punch combination from Jackson misses.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice sprawl there from Legba as Jackson shoots in.
Jackson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Legba.

Legba pushes Jackson up against the cage in a clinch.

Legba breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Legba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Legba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a leg kick
enabling Legba to counter with a crisp jab.
Legba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jackson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Legba counters with a nice body shot.
Jackson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Legba counters with a low kick, right behind Jackson 's knee.

Jackson gets caught flat footed, as Legba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Legba wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Legba advances to half guard.
Legba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Legba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Legba is working away from the top position though.
Legba wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson wants to improve his position but Legba is controlling well.
Jackson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Legba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Legba's back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legba covers up after that shot from Jackson.
Jackson lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Jackson.
Jackson throwing sloppy strikes.

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 Papa Legba.
I think Legba 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Legba!
Papa Legba took some time post fight to say the following; '(holding a blunt) It's medicinal...but not for aids!!'.