PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Deshawn Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avital Shafir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Avital Shafir has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Jackson
vs
Shafir

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Deshawn Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Avital Shafir!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shafir trying to control but Jackson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson controlling the pace.
Shafir trying to hold on to Jackson's head to control him but Jackson postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shafir actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shafir is trying to maintain the position but Jackson is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shafir has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Jackson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Shafir throws a predictable looking body shot

and Jackson counters with a takedown into side control.
Jackson working away.
Shafir is looking to regain half guard here but Jackson keeps moving and retains side control.
Shafir can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shafir tries to bench press Jackson off him but Jackson keeps the position.

Jackson tries for a kimura but Shafir is defending well.
Shafir wants to control but Jackson postures up.
Jackson misses with the ground and pound.
Jackson working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Avital Shafir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Shafir.

Jackson clinches with his opponent.
Jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jackson slows down the pace here.
Jackson is breathing heavily.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.

Jackson darts in and clinches Shafir up against the cage.
Shafir letting Jackson take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson has Shafir pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jackson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Shafir tumbling to the mat - Jackson dives into Shafir's guard.
Jackson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Shafir working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jackson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jackson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deshawn Jackson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jackson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shafir avoids it really well and circles away.
Shafir misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shafir explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shafir lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Shafir looks for the body kick but Jackson saw that one coming.
Shafir misses with the combination.
Shafir throws a head kick that half lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shafir.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shafir.
Nice sprawl there from Shafir as Jackson shoots in.
Jackson blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafir throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shafir scores with a jab to the jaw.
Avital Shafir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shafir feints a jab promting Jackson to slip. Shafir then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jackson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Shafir throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jackson's head.

Jackson clinches.
Shafir fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shafir fails to pull guard.

Jackson tightens his grip and picks Shafir up, before dumping him to the ground. Shafir manages to land in guard.
Jackson postures up in Shafir's guard and throws a big left but Shafir blocks it.
Shafir wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shafir looking for a guillotine here but Jackson defends easily.
Jackson stays in close to Shafir's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shafir is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jackson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jackson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shafir is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deshawn Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shafir throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shafir lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Jackson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Shafir tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Jackson is in Shafir's guard.
Jackson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shafir wants to control but Jackson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shafir is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Jackson is staying active.

Shafir sneaks out the side door and pushes Jackson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Deshawn Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shafir throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Shafir sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Danga de danga de dang - Shafir scores with a four punch combination!
Nice body kick from Shafir.
A slapping body kick lands there for Shafir.
Jackson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A good leg kick by Shafir.
Shafir is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shafir thumps Jackson with a low kick.
Jackson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Jackson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avital Shafir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shafir lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shafir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jackson circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab from Shafir does it's job there.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shafir pinned against the cage. Shafir gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice body kick from Shafir.
Shafir throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shafir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jackson throws a big counter combination but Shafir scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Shafir throws a head kick but Jackson moves out of range.
Shafir tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shafir scores with a sloppy right hand. Jackson should have avoided that one.
Shafir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafir lands with a good body shot.
Shafir misses with a series of wild punches.
Jackson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shafir.
Shafir connects with a high kick.
Shafir misses with a kick to the body.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shafir circles away.
Shafir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Shafir misses with a wild combination.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deshawn Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Shafir lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jackson doesn't seem phased though.
Jackson goes for a double leg but Shafir avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shafir continues to drive forward.
Shafir lands a leg kick that knocks Jackson off balance momentarily.
Shafir looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
Jackson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shafir.
Shafir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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!
Shafir scores with a kick to the body.
Shafir scores with a head kick.
Shafir bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shafir lands a front kick.
Shafir misses with a double jab.
Jackson takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shafir.
Avital Shafir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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.
Shafir throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Shafir misses with the combination.
Jackson tries to counter with a takedown but Shafir is quick to defend against it.
A punch lands to the side of Jackson 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Shafir misses with the combination.
Shafir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Shafir.
A nice combination there by Shafir.
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!
Jackson walks into a straight right hand from Shafir.
Shafir misses with a looping right.
A combination from Shafir does no damage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shafir enables Jackson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shafir manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Shafir is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Shafir is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Avital Shafir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shafir 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avital Shafir!