PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leland Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Anthony
vs
Jackson

210 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leland Anthony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson instigates a clinch.
Anthony wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Anthony throws a punch but it's blocked by Jackson.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Anthony takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A bit of stalling here from Jackson.
Anthony's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jackson lands with a left to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jackson obliges.
Anthony taking a breather.
Jackson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jackson prevents Anthony from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson has Anthony pressed against the cage, preventing Anthony from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Jackson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Anthony uses from the top position.
Anthony throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Anthony really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Jackson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Anthony against the cage.
Anthony has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Anthony working hard to break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Jackson.
Anthony is trying to break free.
Jackson effectively controlling the action here.
Anthony has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Anthony has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Anthony is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Anthony's efforts to push away.
Jackson has Anthony pressed against the cage, preventing Anthony from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jackson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anthony tries to pull guard but Jackson won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.

Jackson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jackson lands in his opponent's guard.

Anthony has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jackson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jackson looks winded!

Jackson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Anthony, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anthony is trying to break free.
Anthony is looking to break free of the clinch but Jackson has double underhooks.
Anthony is trying to push Jackson away but Jackson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A frustrated look appears on Anthony's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson slows down the pace here.
Anthony wants to break the clinch but can't.
Anthony tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.

Jackson breaks the clinch.

Jackson clinches up against the cage.
Anthony wants to break the clinch but can't.
Anthony tries to circle away but Jackson has him pinned against the cage.
Anthony is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jackson is defending well.

Jackson pulls Anthony into guard.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson wants to control the position but Anthony says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jackson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Jackson trying to control but Anthony postures up.
Anthony not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Anthony working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Jackson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jackson is looking to control Anthony's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jackson avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Jackson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jackson throws a head kick but Anthony moves out of range.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Anthony against the cage.

Anthony breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Anthony gets tackled into the cage by Jackson. Jackson maintains the clinch.
Jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Anthony's efforts to push away.
Anthony is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Anthony working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
Eric Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Jackson has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.

Jackson has hold of one of Anthony's legs. Anthony is fighting the takedown attempt but Jackson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Anthony striking off his back but it's not causing Jackson any problems.
Anthony will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Anthony 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.
Anthony trying to control the position.
Anthony thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Anthony.
Anthony is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony wants to improve his position but instead Jackson has moved into half guard.
Jackson thows a huge punch but Anthony dodges it nicely.
Anthony looks like he's trying to stand up.

Jackson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Anthony gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony looking for a sweep. Not yet Anthony, not yet.
Jackson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Anthony looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Anthony not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Anthony keeps moving.
Jackson throws a big elbow that misses.
Jackson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Jackson pushes Anthony up against the cage in a clinch.
Anthony is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Anthony's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Jackson lands a takedown into guard.
Jackson trying to control but Anthony is working from the bottom.
Jackson postures up.
Anthony looking for a sweep. Not yet Anthony, not yet.
Anthony utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eric Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Anthony looking for a sweep. Not yet Anthony, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Jackson 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! This is the final round!

Jackson throws a head kick that misses.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jackson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Anthony explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Jackson throws the kick towards the body but Anthony avoids it.
Anthony is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Jackson.
Jackson misses with a head kick.
Jackson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Anthony is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick by Jackson misses

and Anthony counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Anthony.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anthony lands an elbow inside that Jackson shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony is trying to push Jackson away but Jackson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Anthony misses with an elbow strike.
Jackson keeps control of Anthony as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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

Anthony decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Jackson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Anthony is on him like a limpet, forcing Jackson back against the cage.
Eric Jackson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Anthony tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.
Anthony controlling the action here for a moment.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Jackson.
Anthony tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jackson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anthony was well out of range. Poor timing from Jackson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jackson gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Anthony's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Anthony is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.

Jackson pulls Anthony into guard.
Anthony with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Anthony content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Anthony trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Anthony has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jackson wants to control but Anthony passes easily into half guard.
Anthony is keen to just control but Jackson is a slippery customer.
Anthony looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Anthony thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.
Jackson wants to control but Anthony is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Anthony has taken the fight to the clinch.

Anthony breaks the clinch.
Anthony tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And Jackson tries to counter it with a takedown but Anthony pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Jackson clinches up with Anthony and pushes him back against the cage.
Eric Jackson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Anthony has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Anthony tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.
Leland Anthony has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jackson pulls Anthony into guard.
Anthony missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leland Anthony.
Well Jackson 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Jackson!
A relieved looking Eric Jackson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.