PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Arts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Arts
vs
Jackson

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
28
190 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marshall Arts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Blake Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Watson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arts but Arts pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Arts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arts displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Marshall Arts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Jackson.
Arts tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arts throws a head kick but Jackson moves out of range.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arts tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arts to the ground. Arts escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marshall Arts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson connects with an inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jackson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Arts is looking to clinch.
Arts tries to clinch but Jackson moves away
and Jackson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson clinches.
Arts looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jackson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Arts gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jackson.
Jackson takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Blake Jackson has been cut.
Arts throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jackson avoids the elbow strike from Arts, against the cage.
Arts throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arts is breathing heavily.
Arts trying to land knees to the body.
Jackson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jackson gets tackled into the cage by Arts. Arts maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to control Arts's arms but Arts gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jackson has his back to the cage.
Arts misses with a knee strike.
Jackson avoids the elbow strike from Arts, against the cage.
Arts connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jackson's face.
Arts misses with a knee to the head.
Jackson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Arts has Jackson pressed against the cage, preventing Jackson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Arts looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Jackson tries to pull guard but Arts won't allow it.
Arts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jackson avoids it.
Arts throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arts prevents the takedown attempt.
Jackson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Arts gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Arts is pressed up against the cage. Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arts down to the mat. Arts avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jackson is defended easily by Arts.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jackson counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson clinches with his opponent.
Jackson stalling in the clinch but Arts improves position.
Arts lands an elbow that stopped Jackson in his tracks for a moment.

Jackson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arts regains guard immediately.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Arts keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson cracks Arts with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arts wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.

Arts is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Jackson missing with knees to the body.
Jackson wants to break free but Arts has control.
Jackson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arts doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Arts throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Arts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Blake Jackson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blake Jackson's cut.
That's time! Arts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jackson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Arts is not content to let Jackson control the position.
Arts is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jackson is controlling him well.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Arts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arts is looking to get back to his feet here but Jackson is keeping cool and he's managed to take Arts's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arts looking very determined here, making life difficult for Jackson.
Jackson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jackson controls the position.
Jackson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jackson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Jackson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Arts haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Blake Jackson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Arts misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jackson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Jackson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jackson wants to take a breather but Arts is having none of it.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson is trying to control. Arts wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Arts pushes Jackson off looking to stand but Jackson dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Blake Jackson.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Arts throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jackson wants to get back to striking at distance but Arts won't allow it.
Arts looking to throw knees to the head but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arts is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jackson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Arts prevents it.
Arts has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Jackson looking to slow down the pace here.
Jackson is trying to break the clinch but Arts has him pressed against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jackson jumps guard and drags Arts to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Arts gets to his feet. Jackson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Arts stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arts wants it to stay on the feet.
Marshall Arts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Jackson.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Arts circles away.
Arts looks to clinch

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Blake Jackson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arts tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.

Arts gets tackled into the cage by Jackson. Jackson maintains the clinch.

Jackson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Arts uses from the top position.
Jackson is looking to sweep but instead, Arts has passed into half guard.

Arts decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Arts is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Arts shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Arts tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jackson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arts tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arts tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jackson gets a clinch.
Jackson struggles to land a body shot inside as Arts controls his hands.
Arts avoiding damage as Jackson throws knees to the body.
Arts pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Arts looking to throw knees to the head but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Arts prevents a takedown attempt there.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Arts which made him look bad.
Marshall Arts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Jackson.
Arts doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Arts fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Arts.
Marshall Arts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Arts circles away easily

and Arts counters by moving into the clinch.
Jackson avoids a wild elbow strike from Arts.
Arts prevents the takedown attempt.
Arts utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Arts tries a knee to the head but Jackson blocks it.
Jackson avoids the elbow strike from Arts, against the cage.
Jackson wants a takedown.
Jackson looking for a takedown.
Arts lands an elbow that stopped Jackson in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arts is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Jackson drags the fight down to the ground.
Jackson pulls Arts in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arts stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arts.
Jackson wants to stand and escape but Arts is having none of it.

Arts decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jackson, up you get!
Arts is looking to clinch.
Arts tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson rushes Arts and presses him up against the cage.
Jackson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Arts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jackson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jackson avoids the elbow strike from Arts, against the cage.
Jackson is trying to pull guard but Arts has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Arts after a bit of a struggle.
Arts utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jackson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Arts to keep the fight standing.
Arts lands an elbow that stopped Jackson in his tracks for a moment.
Jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arts gets underhooks to prevent Jackson's takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arts using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Blake Jackson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Arts landing knees to the body.

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 Marshall Arts.
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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Blake Jackson!