PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shamar Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Godbolt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Freak on a Leash. Godbolt has chosen Trenches by Pop Evil as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Godbolt

185 cm
29
200 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

186 cm
28
202 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Shamar Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthew Godbolt!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson loads up on a big right hand but Godbolt slips the punch.
Godbolt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jackson tries to bum rush Godbolt with a series of wild strikes but Godbolt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Godbolt jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Godbolt throws a body shot but no joy.
Godbolt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jackson throws out a powerful jab.
Jackson lands the left hand.
Godbolt throws a shot to the body.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Godbolt shows good takedown defense.
Godbolt tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jackson swivels and escapes.
Godbolt dives in for a single leg takedown but Jackson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jackson prevents Godbolt from breaking the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Jackson has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Jackson looking for a takedown.
Godbolt prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shamar Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Godbolt turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Godbolt manages to end up in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Godbolt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jackson keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson regains half guard.
Godbolt thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Godbolt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jackson sees it coming and defends easily.
Godbolt throwing shots but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Godbolt scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Godbolt looking to pass the guard.
Godbolt trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Jackson is looking for a triangle but Godbolt pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jackson is trying to control the position but Godbolt postures up.
Godbolt preventing the sweep.
Jackson is working hard here to advance position.

Godbolt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jackson trying to control the position.
Godbolt trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Godbolt is fighting to break Jackson's control of his arms but Jackson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Godbolt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Godbolt is working Jackson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Godbolt stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jackson is on top in guard.

Jackson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Godbolt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jackson defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jackson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jackson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Godbolt is keeping the position for now.
Jackson postures up.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Godbolt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Godbolt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jackson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson has Godbolt pulled in close to control his posture.
Godbolt advances position into side control!
Jackson tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Godbolt presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Godbolt raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Godbolt cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Godbolt is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Jackson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Godbolt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Godbolt dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Godbolt dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Godbolt. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson slips under a jab.
Godbolt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Godbolt has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Shamar Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Godbolt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Godbolt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Godbolt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jackson sprawls well initially but Godbolt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jackson is trying to maintain the position but Godbolt is very close to passing his half guard.
Jackson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Godbolt is trying to work for a kimura but Jackson is defending well.
Jackson is trying to control but can't.
Jackson tries to roll over but Godbolt keeps him under control.
Godbolt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jackson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jackson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Godbolt stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Godbolt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Godbolt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Godbolt working a defensive guard here.

Godbolt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Godbolt is retaining full guard.
Godbolt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jackson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Godbolt working some strikes from top position.
Godbolt stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jackson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Godbolt has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt advances to mount.
Jackson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Jackson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Godbolt is working for a submission of some sort.
Jackson taking some punishment here, with Godbolt in his half guard.
Godbolt trying to mount his opponent but Jackson defends it.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Godbolt from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jackson is on top in guard.

Godbolt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Godbolt wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
Jackson passes Godbolt's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Godbolt works his way to full guard. Good work.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Godbolt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Godbolt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jackson is one step ahead there.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Godbolt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matthew Godbolt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Godbolt takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Godbolt lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Godbolt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jackson misses with a double jab
and Godbolt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Godbolt misses.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
Nice jab there from Jackson.
Jackson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Godbolt throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jackson's waist but Jackson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Godbolt off to one side.
Godbolt ducks right into an uppercut from Jackson.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Godbolt on that attempt.
Jackson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Godbolt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Godbolt swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godbolt throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Jackson misses.

Jackson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jackson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Godbolt is looking to reverse the position.
Godbolt parries the strikes from Jackson easily there. Jackson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Godbolt to escape.

Jackson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Godbolt rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Jackson's guard! Nice work there by Godbolt!
Godbolt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jackson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jackson wants to improve his position but Godbolt is controlling well.
Matthew Godbolt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt trying to control from half guard but Jackson is working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Godbolt sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Godbolt wants to pass to mount but Jackson is defending the position.
Jackson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shamar Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Godbolt stalling.
Godbolt's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt is continuing to stall.
Godbolt seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jackson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jackson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jackson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jackson.
Godbolt controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Godbolt from controlling successfully.
Godbolt is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Godbolt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Godbolt trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Godbolt.
Jackson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Godbolt connects with a body shot that sends Jackson's belly button to the back.
Jackson leaves Godbolt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shamar Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Godbolt.
Godbolt lands a nice looking body shot.
Godbolt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jackson.
Godbolt misses with a right hand

and Jackson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Godbolt's guard.
Jackson connects with a couple of short punches.
Jackson throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamar Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Godbolt 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Godbolt!
A very excited looking Matthew Godbolt 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.