PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murray Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Freeman

182 cm
40
186 lbs
36 - 10 - 0

178 cm
38
195 lbs
24 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murray Jackson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Freeman.
It looked like Jackson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Freeman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jackson to the ground. Freeman is now in Jackson's guard.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Jackson keeping full guard, as Freeman tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freeman is on top in guard.

Freeman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Freeman is one step ahead there.
Freeman landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to pass into half guard but Jackson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Jackson is in guard.

Freeman throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freeman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jackson is one step ahead there.
Freeman is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.
Freeman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jackson is one step ahead there.
Freeman pulls Jackson in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Jackson won't allow Freeman to sweep him here.
Jackson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Freeman 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.
Jackson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jackson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Freeman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Freeman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jackson tries to avoid it but Freeman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jackson to the ground. Jackson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Freeman lands with a nice body kick.
Freeman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Freeman saw that one coming.

Freeman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jackson is trying to defend but Freeman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jackson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Freeman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jackson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Freeman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jackson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matt Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson lands with a nice combination. Freeman backs away looking to recover.
Freeman slips a straight right by Jackson.
Freeman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jackson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Freeman thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Freeman ducks down to avoid it.
Jackson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Freeman misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Jackson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman shoots in but no luck this time.
Jackson misses with a body shot.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Freeman.
Freeman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Freeman.
Freeman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Murray Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Freeman. Freeman gets slowly back to his feet.
Freeman tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.
Jackson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Freeman.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freeman lands a high kick!
Freeman 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 Freeman off to one side.
Jackson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Murray Jackson is winning the standup battle so far.
Freeman tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman fails with the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Jackson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freeman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Freeman persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Murray Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jackson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Freeman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jackson counters with a nice uppercut.
Freeman fails to land the takedown.
A big right from Jackson misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jackson throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to work over Freeman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jackson to keep the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Jackson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Freeman tries to break free but Jackson pushes him back against the cage.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Freeman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Freeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Jackson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Freeman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson dominated that second round.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Freeman doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Jackson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Freeman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Freeman 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. Freeman is in Jackson's guard.

Jackson is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Freeman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Freeman fails to land.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Freeman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jackson is not content to let Freeman control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman is working for a submission of some sort.
Freeman throwing shots but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Freeman thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.
Jackson is looking to control Freeman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jackson avoid being mounted?
Freeman trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Freeman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson misses with a straight right.
Freeman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Freeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matt Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman takes one to the side of the head.
Freeman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a hook.
Jackson misses with a looping right.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Freeman ducks down to avoid it.
Freeman darts in looking for a takedown but Jackson gets double underhooks and turns Freeman into the cage.
Murray Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
Freeman closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Freeman pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Freeman shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jackson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Freeman tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.
Freeman shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.

Freeman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Freeman showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to hold on to Freeman's head to control him but Freeman postures up.

Jackson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman lands with a shot to the body.
Jackson throws out a loose jab but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson clearly takes 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.

Jackson dodges the punch combination from Freeman.
Freeman shoots in looking for a takedown. Jackson tries to sprawl out of it but Freeman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jackson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson throwing a counter right hand but Freeman manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Freeman is defended easily by Jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murray Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
Jackson stuffs the takedown.
It looked like Jackson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Freeman.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Freeman moves to clinch but Jackson breaks away
and Jackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Freeman uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jackson has time to react.
A good leg kick by Freeman.
Freeman fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Jackson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jackson lands a nice shot to the body.
Jackson tests Freeman's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Freeman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Freeman is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Matt Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Freeman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to control Freeman's posture but Freeman avoids it.

Freeman decides to stand back up. Freeman steps back and let's Jackson get back to his feet.
Freeman fails with a takedown attempt.
Freeman scores with a three punch combo!
Freeman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman darts in trying to clinch
and Jackson counters with a nice uppercut.
Freeman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Freeman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman lands a head kick!
Freeman is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Jackson moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Murray Jackson!
Murray Jackson retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Murray Jackson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.