PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taylor
vs
Jackson

172 cm
20
229 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
21
242 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Merciless Gladiators
GREEN!160

Cynical Truth Vegas

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor fails with the takedown

and Jackson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taylor seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Jackson postures up.
Taylor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is trying to control the position but Jackson postures up.
Jackson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.
Taylor looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Jason Taylor wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Taylor with a poor takedown

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.
My spies in Full Affliction Fight Team inform me that Jackson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson wants to stand but Taylor is controlling his posture from full guard.

Jackson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Taylor, up you get!
Jason Taylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson avoids the strikes from the bottom by Taylor.
Taylor wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Jackson stands up.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor throws a strike but Jackson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor 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.

Taylor is working an open guard so Jackson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor fails with the takedown

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Taylor didn't expect that.
Jackson tries to stand but Taylor is controlling from the bottom.

Jackson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taylor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jackson has managed to get both his arms back between Taylor's legs - danger averted.
Jackson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taylor's guard.

Taylor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.

Jackson stands up from Taylor's guard - Jackson perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Jackson stands up from half guard.

Jackson shoots in and gets a takedown into Taylor's guard.

Jackson stands and steps away. Taylor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jackson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taylor is breathing heavily.

Taylor 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 wanted to stand there but Taylor had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Taylor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Jackson gets to his feet. Taylor looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Taylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Jackson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jackson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jackson is looking for a takedown.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Taylor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor tries for a takedown but Jackson circles away easily

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.

Jackson gets to his feet - Taylor follows without any prompting.

Taylor clinches with his opponent.
Jackson prevents a takedown attempt there.

Taylor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Taylor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Taylor is working an open guard so Jackson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor shoots and misses

so Jackson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Taylor doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Taylor 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.

Taylor has an active guard here but Jackson has managed to pass into half guard.

Jackson decides to stand and escape the position.
Taylor misses with a takedown

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.

Jackson stands up from Taylor's guard - Jackson perhaps looking for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson stands up.

Jackson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jackson prevents Taylor from escaping the position.

Jackson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Taylor to his feet.
Taylor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Taylor didn't expect that.

Jackson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Good work by Taylor as he checks the leg kick.

Taylor tries to sprawl but Jackson drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor manages to get to full guard.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jackson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Taylor gets a double leg takedown into Jackson's guard.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jackson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Taylor defends well.
Jackson wants to sweep here but Taylor controlling him for the moment.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to control the position.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taylor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jackson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taylor shoots and misses

and Jackson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taylor's guard.
Taylor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Jackson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Taylor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jackson is looking to reverse the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Taylor tries to score with some ground and pound. Jackson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Taylor cracks Jackson with a big right hand but Jackson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Taylor controlling from side mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Taylor scores with punches from side control.
Jackson is looking for a sweep.
Taylor working the head with strikes.
The ground and pound from Taylor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Taylor throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Jackson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Taylor is working for a kimura here but Jackson manages to reverse the position and he's now in Taylor's guard.

Jackson stands up from Taylor's guard - Jackson perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taylor lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taylor being controlled here momentarily.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taylor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.

Taylor got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jackson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taylor has managed to get both his arms back between Jackson's legs - danger averted.
Jackson controlling Taylor's posture.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Jackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taylor manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Jackson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Jackson is proving a slippery customer.

Taylor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taylor throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Taylor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jackson defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jackson stands and steps away. Taylor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jason Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven Jackson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jason Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Jackson scores with a takedown into Taylor's guard.

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 Jason Taylor.
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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Jackson!
Steven Jackson took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Untouchable Fight Nutrition Q160 $125 for their support in the buildup to the fight.