PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Zagarno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Cedric Jackson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Jackson
vs
Zagarno

180 cm
24
147 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

165 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cedric Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabe Zagarno!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zagarno to the ground. Jackson is now in Zagarno's guard.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Zagarno keeps moving.

Zagarno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jackson being controlled here momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zagarno can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zagarno looking for a sweep. Not yet Zagarno, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zagarno is trying to control the position but Jackson postures up.
Jackson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zagarno's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson trying to control from half guard but Zagarno is working away.
Zagarno gets full guard.

Zagarno escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jackson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zagarno controlling Jackson's posture.
Zagarno controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Zagarno lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagarno controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson wants to stand and escape but Zagarno is having none of it.
Zagarno is pushing down on Jackson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jackson is fighting to maintain full guard but Zagarno has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zagarno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jackson's head.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zagarno on the ground.

Zagarno is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jackson has managed to free his arm - good work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jackson misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zagarno circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zagarno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Zagarno checks a leg kick.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zagarno throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jackson counters with a one-two to the body.
Zagarno shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Zagarno keeps it at a distance.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zagarno looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Zagarno persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson moves out of range as Zagarno strikes.
Zagarno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jackson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zagarno checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zagarno.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zagarno displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Zagarno shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jackson but Jackson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cedric Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabe Zagarno.
Jackson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jackson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jackson tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson misses with a takedown

and Zagarno counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jackson!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Zagarno tries for a kimura but Jackson is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabe Zagarno will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson looks for a takedown but Zagarno sprawls well.
Zagarno tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zagarno throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jackson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zagarno is in Jackson's guard.
Zagarno wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zagarno not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zagarno wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

Zagarno stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jackson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zagarno.

Jackson forces Zagarno back against the cage and clinches.
Zagarno tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jackson avoids it.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Zagarno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagarno tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.
Zagarno looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Zagarno persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Zagarno looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Jackson throws a head kick but Zagarno moves out of range.
Jackson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Jackson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zagarno throws a sloppy head kick and Jackson moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zagarno misses with a head kick.

Zagarno shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zagarno wants to stand but Jackson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Zagarno isn't so interested in that idea.
Zagarno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jackson trying to strike off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zagarno makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Zagarno from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zagarno takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cedric Jackson is winning the standup battle so far.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Zagarno shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Zagarno.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
Zagarno looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cedric Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabe Zagarno.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jackson tries to sprawl but Zagarno drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zagarno is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Jackson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabe Zagarno will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zagarno slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.

Zagarno throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jackson was covering up waiting for the punch and Zagarno finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zagarno wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Gabe Zagarno has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zagarno controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Zagarno from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Zagarno has passed into half guard!
Zagarno trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Zagarno has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jackson tries to reverse the position but Zagarno maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zagarno working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Jackson is working to get back to half guard.
Zagarno takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jackson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zagarno tries to control but Jackson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson really wants to buck Zagarno off and get back to his feet.

Zagarno looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Zagarno looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jackson is in a horrible position here. Zagarno smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zagarno prevents Jackson from getting the reversal.

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.
Zagarno can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
Jackson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zagarno landing strikes from the mount.

Zagarno is working for a guillotine from mount but Jackson frees his head quite easily.
Zagarno wants to control the pace but Jackson is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabe Zagarno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zagarno winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gabe Zagarno!