PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ville Vallaton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jessie Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vallaton
vs
Jackson

184 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 Helsinki, Ville Vallaton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jessie Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson moves into the clinch successfully.
Jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jackson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jackson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jackson.
Vallaton is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jackson is keeping busy.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vallaton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jackson looking to slow down the pace here.
Vallaton dodges an elbow strike from Jackson.
Vallaton wants to take the fight to the mat but Jackson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vallaton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jackson swivels and escapes.
A big right from Jackson misses.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackson goes for a double leg but Vallaton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vallaton continues to drive forward.
Jackson pushes off an throws an elbow but Vallaton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson trying to land knees to the body.
Vallaton struggles to land a body shot inside as Jackson controls his hands.
Vallaton stalling against the cage.
Jackson is trying to drag Vallaton to the mat but Vallaton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ville Vallaton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jessie Jackson.
Vallaton managing to block the knees to the body from Jackson.

Vallaton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vallaton misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vallaton fails with the takedown.
Jessie Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Jackson wants to clinch.
Vallaton connects with a single shot there.
Jackson looks for the body kick but Vallaton saw that one coming.
Vallaton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vallaton swivels and escapes.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Vallaton.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Vallaton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Jackson.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick.
Jackson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Vallaton ducks down to avoid it.

Vallaton closes the distance and clinches.
Jackson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jackson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vallaton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jackson looks winded!

Vallaton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vallaton closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Vallaton pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jackson misses with a head kick.

Vallaton closes the distance and pushes Jackson back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vallaton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Vallaton wants the takedown. Jackson is fighting it off but Vallaton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Jackson's guard against the cage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Vallaton trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jackson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vallaton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Jessie Jackson has been cut.
Good shot there by Jackson.
Jackson scores with a leg kick.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Vallaton tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vallaton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vallaton. Vallaton obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ville Vallaton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jessie Jackson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vallaton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jackson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vallaton somewhat.
Vallaton stuffs the takedown.
Vallaton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Vallaton keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Vallaton. Vallaton gets slowly back to his feet.
Vallaton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Vallaton persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Vallaton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Vallaton keeps it at a distance.
Jackson misses with a kick to the body.

Vallaton darts in and clinches Jackson up against the cage.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vallaton pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to clinch up.
Vallaton throws a solid leg kick but Jackson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vallaton.

Jackson forces Vallaton back against the cage and clinches.
Jackson gets underhooks to prevent Vallaton's takedown attempt.
Vallaton jumps guard but Jackson stands there with Vallaton around his waist. Vallaton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Vallaton breaks from the clinch.
Vallaton shoots in and drives through. Jackson sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vallaton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jackson but Jackson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jackson.

Vallaton closes the distance and clinches.
Jackson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Vallaton is avoiding it.
Vallaton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Vallaton against the cage.
Jackson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vallaton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jackson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Jackson rushes Vallaton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vallaton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson misses with an elbow strike.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vallaton leaves Jackson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Vallaton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vallaton tries to pull guard but Jackson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Vallaton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jackson is defending well for now.
Jackson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vallaton avoids it.
Vallaton prevents Jackson from breaking the clinch.
Jackson pushes off an throws an elbow but Vallaton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Vallaton is trying to drag Jackson to the mat but Jackson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jackson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with an elbow over the top.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vallaton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Vallaton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jackson, pushing him back against the cage.

Vallaton jumps guard.
Jackson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vallaton looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vallaton keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessie Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jessie Jackson's cut.
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!

Jackson forces Vallaton back against the cage and clinches.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vallaton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vallaton has a takedown stuffed.

Vallaton instigates a clinch.

Vallaton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick.
Vallaton closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Vallaton pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vallaton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vallaton keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vallaton closes the distance and clinches.
Vallaton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Vallaton tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vallaton avoids it.
Jackson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Vallaton avoids the elbow strike from Jackson, against the cage.
Vallaton being controlled against the cage.

Vallaton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Vallaton circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.
Nice takedown defense from Vallaton. No joy for Jackson on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vallaton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vallaton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jackson somewhat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vallaton stalls.
Vallaton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Vallaton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vallaton paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vallaton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jackson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vallaton.
Jackson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vallaton slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.
Vallaton fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vallaton blocks a head kick by Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
A good leg kick by Vallaton.
Vallaton scores with a head kick.
Ville Vallaton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy body kick from Jackson
and Vallaton counters with a solid body kick.
Vallaton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.

Jackson forces Vallaton back against the cage and clinches.
Vallaton taking a breather.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Vallaton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jackson dodges the punch combination from Vallaton.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Vallaton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jessie Jackson.
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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jessie Jackson!