PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chad Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudio Ricardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chad Jackson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jackson
vs
Ricardo

175 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chad Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Ricardo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ricardo counters with a body kick.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ricardo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ricardo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ricardo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ricardo trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ricardo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ricardo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jackson is just riding it out for now. Ricardo eventually gives up the hold.
Ricardo wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.
Ricardo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is looking for a sweep. Ricardo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ricardo drops an elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Ricardo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jackson is pressing down on Ricardo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ricardo trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jackson is working an open guard so Ricardo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ricardo closes the distance and clinches.

Ricardo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ricardo dives in and grabs Jackson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes down on Ricardo's head and hops out.
Chad Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudio Ricardo.
Ricardo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Ricardo persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ricardo fails with a takedown attempt.
Ricardo looks gassed!

Ricardo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jackson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jackson trying to control but Ricardo is working from the bottom.
Ricardo is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ricardo kicks Jackson off and gets to his feet.
Ricardo shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ricardo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jackson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jackson lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ricardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jackson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ricardo wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Ricardo blocks nicely.
Jackson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ricardo has an active guard here but Jackson has managed to pass into half guard.
Ricardo is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Jackson seems content to control.
Ricardo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ricardo is trying to get back to full guard.
Jackson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ricardo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson wants to control but Ricardo is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Claudio Ricardo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ricardo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jackson somewhat.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Ricardo. Ricardo gets slowly back to his feet.
Ricardo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Jackson scores with a takedown into Ricardo's guard.

Ricardo working for a triangle but Jackson defends it easily.
Jackson postures up.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Ricardo keeps moving.

Jackson drops back looking for a leg! Ricardo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ricardo manages to kick Jackson off! Jackson jumps back into Ricardo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Ricardo, not yet.

Ricardo working for submissions but it's allowed Jackson to get to half guard.

Ricardo actively working from the bottom here.
Ricardo is breathing heavily.
Ricardo is staying active underneath Jackson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Jackson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ricardo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jackson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo wants to improve his position but Jackson is controlling well.
Chad Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ricardo is trying to stand up here but Jackson is controlling him well.
Jackson tries to pass to full mount but Ricardo defends it.
Ricardo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ricardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricardo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jackson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jackson advances to half guard.
Ricardo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jackson.
Ricardo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ricardo has his foot on Jackson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jackson works his way back into a safe position though.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ricardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Ricardo blocks nicely.

Ricardo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Claudio Ricardo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Ricardo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ricardo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Ricardo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson tries to improve position but can't.
Jackson is not content to let Ricardo control the position.

Ricardo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jackson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ricardo's guard! Nice work there by Jackson!

Ricardo looking for subs off his back but Jackson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ricardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo is trying to get back to full guard.

Jackson is looking for a kimura but Ricardo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jackson to get the leverage.

Ricardo kicks Jackson off and gets back to his feet.
Ricardo fails to land the takedown.

Jackson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ricardo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ricardo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Chad Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ricardo's legs.
Jackson working the ground and pound.
Jackson taking a break here but Ricardo is having none of it and regains half guard.

Ricardo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jackson stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ricardo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo is trying to control but can't.
Ricardo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Jackson is staying active.
Ricardo wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson trying to control the action but Ricardo is working from the bottom.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ricardo has managed to free his arm - good work.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson controlling the action here.
Ricardo looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Jackson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Claudio Ricardo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ricardo is trying to control but can't.

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 Chad Jackson.
I think Ricardo 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Ricardo!