PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murray Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Waits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waits is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: What A Waste. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Jackson
vs
Waits

182 cm
34
195 lbs
23 - 6 - 0

183 cm
28
193 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

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 23 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murray Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Waits!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waits throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A big left from Jackson misses.
Waits tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Waits swings for the body but Jackson moves out of range.
Waits fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Waits.
Waits throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
Waits misses with the combination.
Waits throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jackson sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Waits has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jackson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Waits tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jackson avoids it.
Jackson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jackson misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Waits throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Waits misses the shot to the body.
Waits defending well as Jackson loads up on a big left hand.
Waits lands a front kick.
Waits takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.
Waits closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Jackson counter with a right hand.
Waits fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson jabs at Waits's body.
Waits slips under a jab.
Waits attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Waits pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waits throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Waits tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jackson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Waits misses with a low kick.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Waits.
Waits moves away from the strike by Jackson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Waits steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Waits thuds his shin into the meat of Jackson's side.
Nice cross by Jackson.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Waits.
Jackson misses with a body shot.
Jackson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Waits throws out the jab.
Waits jabs at Jackson's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waits throws a solid leg kick but Jackson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Waits.
A slapping leg kick lands for Waits.
Jackson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Waits.
Waits punishes Jackson's body with a nice straight punch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Waits misses with a punch to the body.
Waits lands a shoulder strike.
Waits prevents a body shot from Jackson.
Waits doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jackson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Waits blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Waits with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short left from Jackson.
Waits tries a knee to the head but Jackson blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Waits tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jackson looking to stall.
Jackson misses with a hook to the ribs.
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!
Waits fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.
Waits throws a leg kick which misses Jackson's front leg but catches the back leg as Jackson tries to avoid it.
Waits throws a shot to the body.
Waits moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Murray Jackson has been cut.
A big left from Waits misses.
Waits uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Waits tries to clinch up.
Waits throws a head kick that misses.
Jackson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Waits does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Waits dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Murray Jackson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Waits misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Waits takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Waits throws a jab when Jackson was well out of range.
Waits fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson looks to land a right hand but Waits moved out of range.
Jackson misses with a straight right.
Jackson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Waits fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Waits ducks down to avoid it.
Jackson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waits.
Waits tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jackson avoids a kick to the body.
Waits misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waits moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waits looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Waits throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Waits.
Waits is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Jackson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Waits looks to land a left hand but Jackson moved out of range nicely.
Waits dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jackson. That did some damage!
Waits tries a head kick but it misses.
Waits tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waits looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
Waits lands a slapping body shot.
Jackson misses the shot to the body.
Waits connects with a high kick.
Tom Waits seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Waits does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jackson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Waits.
Waits misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Waits throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jackson.
Waits tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jackson is able to avoid easily.
Waits pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Waits fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Waits dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waits looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Waits misses with an attempted mid kick.
Waits fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good shot there by Jackson.
Waits lands a nice shot to the body.
Waits looks to throw the jab but Jackson is out of range.
Waits misses with a lunging right hand
and Jackson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Waits.
Waits wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Waits fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jackson checks it well.
That kick from Waits tenderised Jackson's leg. Jackson is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot to the liver by Waits. Beautiful body shot.
Waits throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Waits connects with a body shot that sends Jackson's belly button to the back.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Waits.
Jackson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Waits tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jackson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Waits tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jackson is able to avoid easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Waits does a little dance to reset his feet.
Waits is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jackson rather than just go for the knockout.
Waits works the jab nicely.
Waits throws a leg kick but Jackson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Waits showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Murray Jackson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Waits.
A big right from Jackson misses.

Waits fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jackson, pushing him back against the cage.
Jackson 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 lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jackson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jackson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jackson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Waitss head.
A right hand to the body from Waits.
Jackson misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waits creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jackson misses with some punches.
Waits scores with a shoulder strike.
Jackson lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waits tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jackson's elbow.
Waits blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Waits swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jackson lands a shot to the body.
Jackson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jackson managing to block the knees to the body from Waits.
A head punch on the inside from Jackson fails to land.
Jackson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Waits.
Murray Jackson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Waits lands a knee to the body.
Waits creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Jackson tries to circle away but Waits has him pinned against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waits creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in the clinch, Waits scores with a nice short uppercut.
Waits creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jackson's defenses.
Jackson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Waits misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waits misses with a knee strike.
Waits utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jackson misses with some punches.
Jackson blocks an elbow strike.
Waits lands a body shot.
Waits lands a shoulder strike.
Jackson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Waits backwards.
Jackson blocks a body shot from Waits.
Jackson struggles to land a body shot inside as Waits controls his hands.
Waits keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jackson's efforts to push away.
Waits misses with a knee to the head.
Waits lands with a right to the head.
Waits throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Waits misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Waits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waits gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Jackson misses.
Jackson walks into a left hand.
Waits staying out of range there.
Waits tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jackson was well out of range. Poor timing from Waits.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Waits lands with a right to the head.
Waits swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murray Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Waits doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jackson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A knee to the head by Waits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Waits has a couple of punches blocked by Jackson.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Waits looks to clinch
and Jackson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jackson takes one to the chin there.
Waits cracks Jackson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Waits misses with an attempted mid kick.
Waits lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Waits tries to land a front kick but Jackson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jackson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Waits moves away.
Jackson lands with a right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Waits tries to clinch up.
Jackson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Waits was well out of range. Poor timing from Jackson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Waits comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Waits has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Waits!
A very excited looking Tom Waits made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.