PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson comes to the cage accompanied by Enter Sandman. Rodney Jackson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Halverson
vs
Jackson

196 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

189 cm
32
197 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson misses with a few strikes there.

Halverson gets the takedown into side control.
Halverson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Jackson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Halverson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Halverson trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Halverson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Halverson working the ground and pound but Jackson is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halverson throws an elbow but Jackson slips to the side and avoids it well.

Halverson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Halverson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Halverson tries to move to mount but Jackson blocks the move with his legs.
Halverson happy to just control the position for now.
Jackson is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Halverson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Halverson working the ground and pound from side control.
Halverson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jackson is avoiding damage well.
Halverson cracks Jackson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Halverson advances to mount.
Halverson lands a heavy elbow.
Halverson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
BOOM! Halverson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Halverson wants to control the pace but Jackson is squirming around nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jackson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Halverson looking to finish with strikes here!
We've been hearing that Halverson has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Halverson tries to control but Jackson wriggling away.
Jackson tries to hold on but Halverson postures up.
Jackson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halverson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halverson with the ground and pound from mount.
Halverson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Jackson is desperately trying to improve his position but Halverson has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is trying to control here but Jackson has managed to regain half guard.

Halverson is working for a submission of some sort.
Nice strikes from Halverson there.
Jackson wants to improve his position but Halverson is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Halverson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Halverson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Halverson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jackson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Halverson.
Halverson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jackson on the side of the head.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Halverson saw that one coming.
Halverson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jackson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jackson takes a swing at Halverson's ribcage but misses.
Halverson cracks Jackson with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson leaves Halverson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson instigates a clinch.
Jackson prevents a body shot from Halverson.
Jackson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Halverson.
Halverson takes a shot to the head.
Jackson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Halversons head.
Halverson tries to pull guard but Jackson won't allow it.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jackson lands the left hand.
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Halverson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a nice looking combination but Halverson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jackson stuns Halverson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Halverson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jackson.
Halverson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jackson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halverson missing with a left hand there. Jackson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jackson is looking for the big counter here.
Jackson throws a shot from downtown. Halverson moves away and avoids it.
Jackson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halverson manages to avoid it.
Jackson looks to land a right hand but Halverson moved out of range.
Halverson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rodney Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halverson scores with a hook.
Halverson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jackson throws out the jab.
Jackson moves out of range as Halverson strikes.
Halverson scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Halverson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jackson defends well and Halverson ends up having to push Jackson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jackson loads up on a big right hand but Halverson slips the punch.
Halverson throwing a counter right hand but Jackson manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Jackson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Halverson doesn't seem phased though.
Jackson misses with a wild body shot.
Halverson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Halverson misses with a jab to the body
and Jackson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halverson tries for a takedown but Jackson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jackson misses with a lunging right hand
and Halverson counters with a nice uppercut.
Jackson scores with the left hand. Halverson knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson staying out of range there.
Halverson just misses with a punch to the body.
Halverson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Halverson dives in and grabs Jackson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes down on Halverson's head and hops out.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Halverson.
Halverson missing with a left hand there. Jackson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Jackson misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halverson shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Halverson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Halverson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Halverson.
A quick step to the side and Halverson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Halverson walks into a jab.

Halverson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jackson's half guard.
Halverson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Halverson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Halverson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson looking to land elbow strikes but Jackson uses the position to regain half guard.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Halverson.

Halverson has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Jackson defend it? Halverson steps over the head and cranks it - Jackson is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Halverson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thatcher Halverson!
Thatcher Halverson looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I shall rise to the top again! Thanks to all my teammates for the training! Also thanks Jackson for taking the fight. To all my faithful fans, thanks for sticking in there with me!'.