PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kweli's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 2Pac - Hit em up . Jackson has chosen Jay Z - Moment of Clarity as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kweli
vs
Jackson

160 cm
31
152 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

170 cm
30
155 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
Conviction

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dominick Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kweli misses with a body shot.
A big right from Kweli misses.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kweli drives through with a takedown into Jackson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kweli trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Kweli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jackson controls Kweli momentarily but Kweli frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Jackson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jackson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kweli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.
Dominick Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jackson.
Kweli shoots in and drives through. Jackson sprawls well.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jackson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kweli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson rushes Kweli and presses him up against the cage.
Kweli wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jackson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jackson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kweli breaks the clinch.

Jackson clinches.
Jackson misses with the head strike.
Jackson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kweli wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson scores a nice knee to the body.
Jackson lands an elbow inside.
Kweli stalling in the clinch but Jackson improves position.
Jackson lands with a light punch inside.
Kweli trying to stall but Jackson improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kweli jumps guard but Jackson stands there with Kweli around his waist. Kweli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jackson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kweli backwards.
Kweli can't break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Jackson.
Jackson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kweli avoids it.
A right handed body shot lands from Jackson.
Jackson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kweli takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kweli tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jackson swivels and escapes.
Kweli looks to throw the jab but Jackson is out of range.
Jackson digs a good body shot into Kweli's ribs.
Jackson lands a nice hook to Kweli's body. Kweli takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kweli looks to land a combination but Jackson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kweli scores with a decent looking hook.
Kweli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jackson but Jackson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kweli takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jackson connects with a solid leg kick.
Jackson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Jackson.
Jackson scores with a spinning back kick!
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.
Jackson connects with a body shot.
Kweli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Kweli is just out of range.
Jackson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kweli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jackson.
Kweli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Jackson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kweli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Kweli persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Kweli lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sloppy strikes from Kweli. Those never looked like landing.
That kick from Jackson tenderised Kweli's leg. Kweli is trying to keep his angry face on.

Jackson forces Kweli back against the cage and clinches.
Jackson tries to throw a body punch but Kweli avoids it by throwing Jackson back against the cage.
Jackson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kweli wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jackson misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Jackson.
Nice body punch from Jackson - that landed with a thud.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Kweli, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kweli throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jackson was covering up waiting for the punch and Kweli finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is adopting a defensive guard.
Kweli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson controlling Kweli's posture.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Kweli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dominick Jackson.
Jackson keeps Kweli at a distance using the push kick.
Kweli shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson's corner calls for a 1-2. Jackson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Talib Kweli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kweli eats them both and turns towards Jackson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jackson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
That kick from Jackson tenderised Kweli's leg. Kweli is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jackson throws a head kick but Kweli moves out of range.
Kweli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Kweli takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli has a takedown stuffed.
Kweli shoots for a takedown but Jackson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kweli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Jackson lands a jab to Kweli's midsection.
Jackson jabs at Kweli's body.
Jab from Jackson.
Talib Kweli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Jackson throws out a powerful jab.
Jackson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jackson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Crunch! Jackson slams his shin into Kweli's torso.
Jackson lands with a good body shot.
Good shot there by Jackson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Kweli on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jackson counters with a thumping low kick.
Jackson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kweli.
Kweli avoids the head kick by Jackson.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kweli throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jackson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kweli's knee momentarily.
Jackson takes a swing at Kweli's ribcage but misses.
Kweli misses with a wild combination.
Kweli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jackson digs a good body shot into Kweli's ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson keeps Kweli at a distance using the push kick.
Dominick Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kweli takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jackson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kweli looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Jackson 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kweli shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kweli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kweli is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jackson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jab by Jackson.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kweli.
Sloppy strikes there by Kweli.
Kweli wants to take a breather but Jackson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kweli.
Kweli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson has Kweli pulled in close to control his posture.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kweli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kweli trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kweli in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kweli is pushing down on Jackson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jackson is fighting to maintain full guard but Kweli has managed to sneak the leg through.
Still in half guard, Kweli seems content to control.
Kweli looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jackson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kweli is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jackson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Jackson controlling the position.
Kweli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Kweli from controlling successfully.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson pulls Kweli in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Talib Kweli.
Jackson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kweli.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Kweli on that attempt.
Jackson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kweli shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kweli closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Kweli pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Talib Kweli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson throws a leg kick which misses Kweli's front leg but catches the back leg as Kweli tries to avoid it.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
Jackson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kweli doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kweli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kweli doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talib Kweli showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Jackson!
Dominick Jackson thanked the fans post fight for their support.