PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shamar Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Renninger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson comes to the cage accompanied by Freak on a Leash. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Renninger

185 cm
21
213 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shamar Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Renninger!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Renninger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Renninger slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Jackson drops Renninger with a right and a left! Jackson comes rushing in but Renninger regains his composure and manages to keep Jackson in guard.

It looks like Ray Renninger has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Renninger is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Jackson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Renninger is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Renninger has escaped and now he's on top!
Renninger controlling from the top position.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson, not yet.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Renninger stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Renninger's guard.
Renninger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jackson trying to control but Renninger is working from the bottom.
Renninger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jackson.

Jackson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Renninger manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jackson has Renninger in his guard.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renninger preventing the sweep.
Jackson is working hard here to advance position.
Renninger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Jackson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Renninger is one step ahead there.
Jackson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Renninger!
Renninger avoids a strike by Jackson and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Jackson's guard! Fantastic escape!
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson has Renninger pulled in close to control his posture.
Renninger preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Renninger puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Renninger wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson wants to control but Renninger is keeping busy.
Jackson tries to roll over but Renninger keeps him under control.
Renninger trying to mount his opponent but Jackson defends it.
Jackson tries to roll over but Renninger keeps him under control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamar Jackson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ray Renninger's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Renninger slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Renninger lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Jackson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Renninger manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jackson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Renninger keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
Renninger keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jackson is looking to work some ground and pound but Renninger has wrist control.
Jackson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jackson trying to control the action but Renninger is working from the bottom.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Jackson tries for a kimura but Renninger is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jackson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Jackson tries for a kimura but Renninger is defending well.
Shamar Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jackson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Jackson tries to score with some ground and pound. Renninger controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Renninger takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws an elbow but Renninger slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jackson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Jackson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Jackson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Renninger, who protects the arm well.
Jackson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Jackson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Jackson throwing strikes but Renninger manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Jackson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jackson is pressing down on Renninger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Jackson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Renninger can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Jackson thowing shots but they're missing.
Jackson 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jackson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Renninger is now in Jackson's guard. A big mistake from Jackson there, giving up the dominant position!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Renninger defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamar Jackson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ray Renninger's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Renninger with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jackson to score with a decent uppercut.
Renninger connects with a body shot.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Renninger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Renninger finds it's way round the side to connect with Jackson's head.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shamar Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson working the ground and pound but Renninger is defending the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Renninger has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jackson but great work by Renninger.
Jackson is looking to regain half guard here but Renninger keeps moving and retains side control.

Renninger has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Jackson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Renninger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.

Jackson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Renninger sprawls well initially but Jackson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson with the ground and pound but Renninger uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Jackson trying to control but Renninger is working from the bottom.
Renninger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jackson.
Jackson postures up in Renninger's guard and throws a big left but Renninger blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Renninger looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Renninger looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Renninger!
Renninger trying to control the position but Jackson is working away.
Jackson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Jackson is pressing down on Renninger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Renninger wants to pass the guard but Jackson is keeping the position.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson, not yet.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Renninger from controlling successfully.
Jackson is trying to control the position but Renninger postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Renninger has passed into half guard!
Jackson landing a few short strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Jackson manages to get to full guard.
Renninger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jackson avoids the attempt from Renninger to control.
Ray Renninger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Renninger has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Renninger!
Jackson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Renninger can do to turn this around?
Jackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Renninger manages to get himself to full guard.
Renninger keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Jackson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Renninger dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamar Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jackson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamar Jackson!
After winning the bout, Shamar Jackson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.