PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Sotto Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sotto Jr
vs
Jackson

176 cm
33
146 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

174 cm
39
144 lbs
32 - 24 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Umberto Sotto Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donnie Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab lands there for Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jackson swings for the body but Sotto Jr moves out of range.
Sotto Jr swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Jackson counters with a straight right hand.
Sotto Jr avoids the head kick by Jackson.
It looked like Sotto Jr was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Jackson.
Jackson throws a body shot but no joy.
Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson throws a head kick but Sotto Jr moves out of range.
Jackson misses with a body kick.
Jackson looks for the body kick but Sotto Jr saw that one coming.
Sotto Jr goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jackson has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Jackson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sotto Jr.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sotto Jr is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sotto Jr swivels and escapes.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sotto Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sotto Jr blocks a jab.
Sotto Jr half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sotto Jr lands a head shot.
Sotto Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Sotto Jr tried to counter with a leg kick but Jackson avoided it.
Jackson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jackson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jackson throws a front kick aimed at Sotto Jr's knee but Sotto Jr avoids it well.

Jackson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sotto Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson throws a body kick that misses
and Sotto Jr counters with a solid body kick.
Nice cross by Sotto Jr.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotto Jr takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jackson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Sotto Jr counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Sotto Jr has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sotto Jr checks a leg kick.
Sotto Jr seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sotto Jr feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jackson's calf.
Sotto Jr throws a looping overhand right but Jackson ducks down to avoid it.
Sotto Jr looks to throw a body kick
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt
and Sotto Jr counters with a right hand to the body.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Jackson.
Jackson throws a leg kick but Sotto Jr sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sotto Jr thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sotto Jr, right into the meat.
An inside leg kick from Sotto Jr misses.
Jackson looks for a takedown but Sotto Jr sprawls well.
Sotto Jr lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jackson backs up against the cage.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sotto Jr working aggressively here.
Sotto Jr is working Jackson over against the cage.
Sotto Jr working aggressively here.

Jackson has hold of one of Sotto Jr's legs. Sotto Jr is fighting the takedown attempt but Jackson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sotto Jr is looking for a triangle but Jackson pushes his legs off easily.
Sotto Jr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jackson manages to get himself to full guard.

Sotto Jr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Umberto Sotto Jr will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jackson lands with a straight right. Sotto Jr didn't see that one coming.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sotto Jr throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jackson wants to get up but he can't break Sotto Jr's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Sotto Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jackson defends it easily.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sotto Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to maintain the position but Sotto Jr is very close to passing his half guard.
Jackson wants to improve his position but Sotto Jr is controlling well.
Jackson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sotto Jr's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sotto Jr's back!
Sotto Jr trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sotto Jr is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sotto Jr trying to control the position but Jackson manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr tries to escape but Jackson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Donnie Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson is trying to control but Sotto Jr is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sotto Jr slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sotto Jr wants to control the action here but instead Jackson manages to pass to full mount!
Sotto Jr has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Jackson tries to keep control of the position but Sotto Jr is staying busy.
Jackson has the hooks in. Sotto Jr is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Jackson is not going to allow Sotto Jr to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr tries to break free.
Jackson has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr staying busy and making it hard for Jackson to control.
Jackson gets his hands free as Sotto Jr looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr tries to break free.

Jackson looking for the choke but no joy.
Jackson scores with punches from the back.

Sotto Jr is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Sotto Jr right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sotto Jr checks a leg kick nicely.
Jackson misses with a head kick.

Sotto Jr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sotto Jr pulls Jackson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jackson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sotto Jr continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson preventing the sweep.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sotto Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jackson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sotto Jr avoids the body shot from Jackson.

That's two 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 dives in and grabs Sotto Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sotto Jr pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
Sotto Jr lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jackson at a distance.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sotto Jr pinned against the cage. Sotto Jr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As Jackson backs away, Sotto Jr returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sotto Jr throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sotto Jr.
Jackson is looking for the big counter here.
Sotto Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sotto Jr throws a leg kick that misses.
Jackson avoids a kick to the body.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sotto Jr misses with a head kick.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson misses with a low kick.
Jackson moves out of range as Sotto Jr strikes.
Sotto Jr throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
Jackson misses with a head kick.
Jackson tests Sotto Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Sotto Jr was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr with a hook.
Umberto Sotto Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sotto Jr is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sotto Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Jackson.
Jackson shoots in but Sotto Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sotto Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jackson moves into the clinch.

Sotto Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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 Umberto Sotto Jr.
I think Sotto Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

The fight is ruled a draw!